Man, people can have an ill-informed chip on their shoulders. Of course the A/C compressor is going to use more fuel.

More silly quotes I noticed:

"None of the automakers admits to knowing how much this increases the hybrids' fuel consumption"
Why not ask the people who drive them? I've noticed about 4-6MPG drop from my 5-9MPG over EPA figures.

"The hybrids fell as much as 40 percent below the EPA mileage figures for combined city and highway driving during my recent test, which covered a mix of Detroit-area roads."
"This is clearly a drawback"
""The vast majority of the country is affected.""
Yes, that's what happens when you gas it all the time, compressor or not.

"this is just the latest example of hybrids falling short of the hype that surrounds them."
Hype? Some of us are doing better than 60MPG in a Civic and better than 90 in an Insight.

""Hybrids are never going to hit the EPA numbers," said Jim Hall, vice president for industry analysis at consultant AutoPacific."
I wonder what exactly he's been analyzing?

"The owners of hybrid cars change their driving habits to increase fuel economy, said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal,"
Does this guy realize that if everyone changed their habits no matter what they drive it would increase? Does the fact that a hybrid encourages good habits put them into a bad light? Sheeeesh!

"while other hybrids stumble demonstrates that "Toyota's not just on the cutting edge of this technology, they're sharpening it,"
Where does he get this? While both use very different technologies, both have their own set of good & bad points.

"The Prius' fuel economy suffered the most, but particularly cold and slippery weather conditions certainly contributed to its 22.8 m.p.g."

Hear that folks, the Prius only gets 22.8MPG if it's cold & slippery.
I wonder if this author ever found the plug?

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How about this statement of mine:

It has been discovered that there is a potentially deadly substance in America's drinking water, and that is dihydrogen oxide. While the Administration continues to ignore this fact, thousands of people die each year because of this substance, which is deliberately added to our drinking supply.
Jimmy Jones, an accredited national chemist says "dihydrogen oxide kills thousands more people than even Chlorine, which is also added to our nation’s water supply"
A local water authority recently quoted "Too much dihydrogen oxide in too short of time can quickly overwhelm the human body, causing a quick, sudden unexpected death." He went on to say that this actually occurs daily but goes on widely unreported.
The Congressman, when cornered by our reporters, finally admitted this substance causes even more deaths every year than automobile accidents. He went further to say that they are not willing to deal with this dangerous issue at this time. If not now, then when? How many more people will have to die?

This last statement of mine is actually 100% factual but I wouldn't go writing your congressman about it!


Thanks Mike, your post was an entertaining read. It seems to be a continuation of today's media in general, and that is to seek only dissatisfied people, blow it up, then toss in a carrot or two for good measure and then print it as factual.

The sad thing is that many people will read this and believe it.

Efficient drivers do it better.
1003 miles a tank personal record. 74MPG calculated. HCH1 CVT