I don't know anything of the sort. I think 60 mpg is a reasonable EPA result. I get 60 or greater, *with* AC. Look over the database here at GH for non-winter months, and then see if you still think 60 mpg is a rare bird.

Saying the car runs in EV, which skews the result, is simply false logic unless there is an unaccounted for powerplant. I found G1 Prius testing by the NREL using the EPA city route. Their end battery SOC was 3% from initital. Since the battery is good for about 3 km of all EV driving, and the SOC is held within a 40% range, we are talking about a gain from the battery of about 200 meters, on a 17,000 meter course. All told, maybe a 0.5 mpg 'steal' -- IF the SOC always ended lower than it started, which is unlikely.

R2-E2, 2G Prius.
Highway/City/Husband/Wife MPG: 56.5, as of 12/2005, 26K miles

Jac Nasser, Ford President: "We are planning to launch a hybrid version of
this car [P2000] within this year [1998]. We will also make FCEV available in
2004."