The bane of my hybrid existence is taking people to lunch. It's a real mileage killer, a very short trip running the A/C with a car full of passengers.

However, I have recently come to realize that I am serving the greater good by taking folks to lunch in my hybrid. Everybody wants to ride in it, and they are always quite captivated by the technology, not to mention the really cool dials and lights on the dashboard.

I have taken to zeroing out the trip B meter at the start of the trip. Then I've got the whole gang focused on the MPG display, and the assist lights, and the charge lights. They are mesmerized as the mileage starts out low, and moves up pretty fast, and goes down when climbing a hill, and goes back up on the downward side. At the end of the whole thing, they can't believe the great mileage.

So I guess I'm not feeling so bad about having to drive all my coworkers to lunch periodically. I'm think I'm making converts with every trip.

I feel the same way. My coworkers don't think of my car as anything but normal now. At first they had the usual questions. Now Its kind of a debate if I want to drive or not. On the one hand I get the best mileage. On the other hand it brings down my tank.

I usualy drive If I've had a particularly good segment. It realy hurts to lose 2mpg though. Maybe I will start driving less normal with them in the car and more like I do when I'm solo. Maybe then they can see that there is no need to speed up to a light.

My hydroponics experiment

You ever notice how hard it is to lip read cartoon characters?
"Crazy is what the sane call Delta Flyer"

I've owned my HCH since April 7th, and have been the only driver, save for the two times it's been in the shop, for window tinting and the software update. My coworker wants to drive it to lunch one day. I secretly think he just wants to gun it with me sitting helplessly in the passenger seat, in retaliation for all the bragging I've done over the past few months

I just found out yesterday afternoon (while waiting at the middleschool to pick up my kid from practise) that a friend who I had excitedly pushed hybrids to , back in the spring- bought a prius last week! I'm so excited about it- that's my first convert. she invited me to come and try it out this weekend. I asked her about her mileage (she commutes with it) and she didn't volunteer hers, but said her husband had gotten 49 on a highway trip. I'll have to take her out this weekend and give her the bug.

and back on track- the bane of my existance is picking my kids up from school and all the little local trips. sure- she could walk, and I tell her that all the time, but she's got a pack full of books that weighs 20 pounds as well as her gym bag. tomorrow- it's french horn delivery......
KLC

KLC
2005 HCH CVT 'Verdigeek'

The bane of my hybrid existence is doing emergency "store runs" not just because the trip is short with a cold start, but because it involves going down a big steep hill, then back up with lots of stops along the way. the way I prefer to look at it though is "what would my mileage were I to drive this exact route in any other car" That is truly what matters when comparing a hybrid to a nonhybrid.

We must be neighbors, because that is *exactly* my situation. That's why I try to send my wife in the other car.

Which I know is good for my MPG, but bad for the environment. I am so bad.

I think hybrids should be used for everything. The city already uses hybrids, but they should think of replacing all the NYC taxies with hybrids, so we can have cleaner air ,and so that the NYC taxi won't have to spend so much money on gas. After all taxies are always in stop and go traffic which is perfect for hybrids.

Coyote,
I feel your pain.
The bane of my hybrid existence is the my new carpooler.
I wanted someone to share the ride with, and she does pay for the ride, but man, it's killing my mileage. Tonight I actually had to have the A/C on the whole ride home. I've never done that before.
I think tonight's mpg was in the high 50's, which for me is like my winter mileage! I should be in the 80's right now.

Eric Powers

MHG Organizer - www.MadisonHybridGroup.com
Hybridfest 2008 - A Hybrid Electric Car Show and More! www.hybridfest.com
Third weekend in July
Madison, WI

I'm surprised no one has mentioned my bane - my spouse driving my car. She hasn't got the hang of driving it yet, and destroys my mileage in a matter of 20 miles. It's not that she's a lead-foot or anything, but I think she has the same habits that many of us did before owning hybrids.

*** Retired after 65,000 outstanding miles ***

I responded earlier saying, "we must be neighbors," because of similar circumstances destroying my mileage as well.

Now I say to Tim, "we must be married to the same woman," because what you say precisely describes my wife. She's not a lead-foot, but my mileage tanks when she drives my car.

I think the problem is those things, come concious and some subliminal, that we do to increase mileage, that our spouses don't do. Like:

- not using A/C (okay that's a no-brainer)
- anticipation of lights (an acquired skill)
- the refined skill of driving conservatively, but staying with the pack just enough to make the green lights

On that last point, I've gotten very good at knowing just how close I need to be to the person ahead of me, in order for me to make the green light with them. I have also gotten so that I am aware of the cars coming in the opposite direction, approaching the same light that I am, and observing that will keep my light green for me, so that I don't have to accelerate unnecessarily.

Kind of weird, eh?