Hi Jason:

___It is too bad he is locked in on the LA area actually. Doesn’t Sdctcher drive into the LA area frequently? He isn’t a hypermiler yet but I believe he is satisfied with the FE he receives and appears to be an active enthusiast? Calpod is a hypermiler with multiple tens of thousands of miles on his Insight in and around California as well? If this reporter is speaking about changing the EPA means of calculating mileage, he may as well speak with someone in the know. The EPA has tests running a variety of accessories (A/C included) in higher temps and also has mileage tests running automobiles at 20 degrees F for FE as well. It is just not one of these alternates hits the Monroney stickers just yet …

___In regards to your mileage may vary, I tend to believe it will not. A hypermiler will achieve similar stats no matter where they drive with a few percentage point hit for hills and mountains as well as temps but they will still far exceed EPA estimates over the long haul. This is also the case with any number of non-hybrid’s. To go along with this, how many people in the US on a percentage basis achieve EPA estimates in whatever they drive? Now ask yourself how many hybrid drivers achieve EPA estimates on a percentage basis tank after tank after tank? Both you and I have a good feel for the answer to these 2 questions. The problem as I see it is that most everyone outside the hybrid community has been cajoled into believing that hybrid’s do not achieve the EPA estimates they are labeled and tested too by the EPA. Not only can a Hybrid kill its EPA estimates, the skills learned from a game gauged automobile (hybrid or not) can be transferred to any other and the EPA estimates become a moot point in them afterwards as well. If this reporter does not make a point of bringing this capability up, hybrid owners as a whole are missing a great opportunity to shine. If you let this reporter control the story with his own viewpoint/spin, we will receive another rehash of the same skewed reporting that you and I have been exposed to these past 4 or 5 years … I have a feeling this is where the story is headed unfortunately

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net