08-24-2005, 10:17 AM
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Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
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Real Name: Larry S. Singleton
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Hybrids: 2007 TCH and Loving It !
Posts: 1,427
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German test pits diesel MB against Lexus rx400h
http://motoring.reuters.co.uk/reuters/vocmain.jsp?lnk=101&id=1306
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The German magazine Auto Bild has conducted a 5,200 km test across the USA comparing the fuel consumption of diesel and hybrid off-roaders.
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The Mercedes ML 320 CDI was compared with the Lexus RX 400h and, over the course of the run, the Mercedes was 11% more fuel efficient at 31.0 mpg compared to 27.7 mpg for the Lexus. In a way, this is not surprising, as a hybrid is very efficient around town, but will give almost no fuel saving at high speed (when the electric motors do not operate). More surprisingly, the testers said that the hybrid was only 1.7% more efficient around town at 24.56 mpg compared to 24.12 mpg. It is clear that, to get the benefit of the electric motors, drivers must be as smooth as possible: sudden prods on the throttle mean the petrol engine cuts in instead of the electric motors.
Of course, hybrids are mainly sold in the USA, where diesel cars are virtually non-existent. In Europe the economy gains are less obvious.
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Those Euro guys - always dissing the 'Brids !!! 
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