cwerdna
Well-known member
Hope this isn't a repost.
Electric cars
Difference Engine: Tailpipe truths
http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/04/electric-cars?fsrc=nlw|newe|4-20-2012|1447248|36350411|" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I've only skimmed the article but he's clearly not pro-EV. The author has a lot of his facts wrong and is mixing various random mileage tests and figures. Sigh...
I think part of it is a side effect of the author not understanding CAFE mileage vs. Monroney sticker numbers and then falling into the trap of high sounding highway mileage numbers of various non-hybrids.
For him to make claims that "the average today is more like 35mpg" is bogus as per http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=PowerSearch&year1=2012&year2=2013&minmsrpsel=0&maxmsrpsel=0&cbftreggasoline=Regular+Gasoline&cbftmidgasoline=Midgrade+Gasoline&cbftprmgasoline=Premium+Gasoline&cbftdiesel=Diesel&city=0&combined=35&highway=0&mpgType=0&minMPGSel=&maxMPGSel=&rowLimit=50&YearSel=2012-2013&MakeSel=&MarClassSel=&FuelTypeSel=Regular+Gasoline%2C+Midgrade+Gasoline%2C+Premium+Gasoline%2C+Diesel&VehTypeSel=&TranySel=&DriveTypeSel=&CylindersSel=&MpgSel=0350&sortBy=City&Units=&url=SearchServlet&opt=new&minmsrp=0&maxmsrp=0&minmpg=0&maxmpg=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, there are virtually no non-hybrids that achieve even 35+ mpg combined for the '12-'13 model years. Even the Smart ForTwo he mentions is rated at only 35-36 mpg combined and doesn't achieve 40 mpg on the EPA highway test.
His claims about the Focus are wrong too:
It's funny how he claims the regular Focus "averages around 40mpg" (NOT) and mentions the Consumer Reports 44 mpg result for the Prius (which is a bit low). Well, the two Focuses that CR tested received *28* mpg ovverall per https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/buying-advice/best-worst-cars-review/best-worst-fuel-economy/best-and-worst-fuel-economy.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.
Feel free to chime in on the comments there and set this guy straight (hopefully).
Electric cars
Difference Engine: Tailpipe truths
http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/04/electric-cars?fsrc=nlw|newe|4-20-2012|1447248|36350411|" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I've only skimmed the article but he's clearly not pro-EV. The author has a lot of his facts wrong and is mixing various random mileage tests and figures. Sigh...
I think part of it is a side effect of the author not understanding CAFE mileage vs. Monroney sticker numbers and then falling into the trap of high sounding highway mileage numbers of various non-hybrids.
The 27 mpg the UCS chose appears to based on combined EPA mileage.Here, your correspondent has the first of his quibbles. The petrol car the UCS team uses for comparison is a notional compact that gets 27mpg. Thus, the team’s claim that even electric vehicles powered by coal (with an emissions equivalent of 30mpg) are cleaner than comparable petrol cars.
The petrol benchmark was chosen because in 2010—the most recent year for which data were available when the study was launched—the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel-economy figures for all compact cars sold that year averaged 27mpg. Given the huge improvements in fuel efficiency over the past few years, the average today is more like 35mpg. “In 2010, only one vehicle—the Smart ForTwo—achieved 40mpg,” notes Edmunds.com. “Today, the 40mpg club is up to nine vehicles and growing.” That is one of the reasons why pricey plug-ins such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt have flopped.
With America’s new emissions standards requiring a fleet average of 34.1mpg by 2016, carmakers there have started peppering their line-ups with frugal imports from their overseas divisions. Some of the foreign fuel-sippers get even more to the gallon than popular hybrids like the Toyota Prius which, according to tests by Consumers Union, delivers a real-world 44mpg. With its advanced three-cylinder engine, Ford’s new Fiesta, which went on sale in Europe last year, gets 47mpg (see “The balance of power”, March 23rd 2012). The Volkswagen three-cylinder up! is capable of 52mpg. Both could soon be heading for American shores.
For him to make claims that "the average today is more like 35mpg" is bogus as per http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=PowerSearch&year1=2012&year2=2013&minmsrpsel=0&maxmsrpsel=0&cbftreggasoline=Regular+Gasoline&cbftmidgasoline=Midgrade+Gasoline&cbftprmgasoline=Premium+Gasoline&cbftdiesel=Diesel&city=0&combined=35&highway=0&mpgType=0&minMPGSel=&maxMPGSel=&rowLimit=50&YearSel=2012-2013&MakeSel=&MarClassSel=&FuelTypeSel=Regular+Gasoline%2C+Midgrade+Gasoline%2C+Premium+Gasoline%2C+Diesel&VehTypeSel=&TranySel=&DriveTypeSel=&CylindersSel=&MpgSel=0350&sortBy=City&Units=&url=SearchServlet&opt=new&minmsrp=0&maxmsrp=0&minmpg=0&maxmpg=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, there are virtually no non-hybrids that achieve even 35+ mpg combined for the '12-'13 model years. Even the Smart ForTwo he mentions is rated at only 35-36 mpg combined and doesn't achieve 40 mpg on the EPA highway test.
His claims about the Focus are wrong too:
Per http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, the '12 Focus is EPA rated at 31 mpg combined and the SFE version is rated at 33 mpg combined.A state-of-the-art electric vehicle like Ford’s forthcoming Focus EV, with a claimed range of 100 miles (say, 70 miles in real-world conditions) and an equivalent fuel economy up there with the Nissan Leaf’s 106mpg, has a base price of $39,200. The petrol-powered version of the same vehicle, which averages around 40mpg, costs just $16,500.
It's funny how he claims the regular Focus "averages around 40mpg" (NOT) and mentions the Consumer Reports 44 mpg result for the Prius (which is a bit low). Well, the two Focuses that CR tested received *28* mpg ovverall per https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/buying-advice/best-worst-cars-review/best-worst-fuel-economy/best-and-worst-fuel-economy.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.
Feel free to chime in on the comments there and set this guy straight (hopefully).