I’m in the market for purchasing a new car and am seriously contemplating purchasing a Hybrid. My question to the community is whether a hybrid would be beneficial to me. My daily commute to work and back consists of 160 miles....about 130 Highway miles (driving aprox. 70-75) and 30 city miles.

From my understanding the hybrid gets its bang from city mileage. I am most interested in the SUV hybrids, but again if my understanding is correct then I may be better of just getting the standard SUV rather than the Hybrid model as I would not be gaining any benefit with all the Highway miles I drive. I may be persuaded to a non-SUV model if I could benefit from it with my existing commute.

Anyway, can anyone provide some insight on my dilemma?

Thanks in advance!

-Rusty

Hi,
You might start with the hybrid database and look for entries with longer trip times. I suspect those are the higher speed commutes. I'd also recommend looking at the Honda hybrid Civic. It has excellent high speed performance.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Wrong!

My Prius gets 45 mpg on the road, and in city driving, during the coldest part of the winter. In warmer weather it will average 50 mpg, highway and city miles. My experience is that city and highway mpg's are the same, but then I live in a small town.

SUV? Yuck!

Harry

President Bush on Global Warming:

http://www.glumbert.com:80/media/globalwarming

Why do you want an SUV?

It really depends on the type of city driving, and the type of highway driving.

Well, I prefer an SUV as it tends to at least make me feel safer if I were to get into an accident. The highway i drive on is nicknamed the 'bloody alley' and get extremely dense fog during the winter.

SUV's are safe? Hahaha, that's a good one:

High and Mighty: SUVs--The World's Most Dangerous Vehicles and How They Got That Way (Hardcover)

From Library Journal
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) have become the fastest-growing market segment in the automobile industry. They have an image of being safer and easier to handle in bad weather than traditional passenger cars. But in this new expos , New York Times reporter Bradsher delivers sobering facts about the conveyances: they protect occupants poorly, inflict horrific damage in crashes, guzzle gasoline, spew emissions, and are, in fact, difficult to control in bad weather or panic situations.

The concept that SUV's are "safer" is a dangerous illusion. They handle like crap, their brakes suck, they are prone to rollover, and have a nasty tendency to not only not protect their occupants, but to kill people in other cars.

If you are buying an SUV for safety, you are badly misinformed.

Harry

President Bush on Global Warming:

http://www.glumbert.com:80/media/globalwarming

Hi Rusty,

Here is a {Very-Matter-Of-Fact} test I personally did with my 2006 HCH II. I think you might find this Test-Interesting.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX

tigerhonaker
Platinum Contributor
Join Date: Feb 2006
Vehicles: 2004 Mercedes AWD & 2006 HCH II
Location: Franklin, Tn. in U.S.A.
Posts: 1,415


Re: Honaker goes for the {GOLD}
Quote:
Originally Posted by tigerhonaker
The Gold: *This term is only for me trying to set a Record in FE : Referred to here as the (Gold).

Tiger (Terry) tries for the {Gold} with his New HCH II.

Trip is to Frankfort, Ky. & Back.

Going to try my level best at least on the 1st Leg of this to Drive at (55 miles per hour) and I just Adjusted the (Tire-Pressure) to (55 Lbs. ) in all 4-Tires.



Mr. Honaker should have said, that this was to see what the HCH II would do for FE without any {Assistance-At-All} from the {Driver}. Test was to see how the Hybrid does on it's (Own) without any (Additional-Help). If the HCH II would get "Above" the EPA Rating with {No-Help} then can you just Imagine what the HCH II could get with all the (Hypermiling Technique's) that xcel and others here at www.CleanMPG.com do. Blushing, Sorry I did not make this alot "Clearer".

Wish me Luck


Mr. Honaker should have said, that this was to see what the HCH II would do for FE without any {Assistance-At-All} from the {Driver}. Test was to see how the Hybrid does on it's (Own) without any (Additional-Help). If the HCH II would get "Above" the EPA Rating with {No-Help}, then can you just Imagine what the HCH II could get with all the (Hypermiling Technique's) that xcel and others here at www.CleanMPG.com do. Blushing, Sorry I did not make this alot "Clearer".

This is a Scanned copy of the Gas Receipt for the, 4.069 Gallons of Gas:
Click on Pic to Enlarge:

Picture One is of the Fuel Gauge Reading before I refilled Gas-Tank:
Click on Pic to Enlarge:

It looked like to me that there was 3-Squares down from Full.
As you can see, one could certainly drive a, Very-Very Long Way
based on the Amount of Fuel (Used) and the Amount of Fuel (Left)
in Tank.

Picture Two is of the, Odometer Reading of the, Miles-Driven
and the MPG that the Computer Figured:
I also took the time to, Calculate the, Exact MPG Based on the Gallons
to Refill the Tank. See: Below
Click on Pic to Enlarge:


The actual MPG figure is: 66.7 MPG

This is Based on the Amount of Gallons (4.069) to Refill the Tank.
The Miles Driven: 271.4
That gives us the above MPG Figure of: 66.7 MPG

As many of us already know. The on board computer is somewhere between 2-3 MPG short of the actual MPG that the Hybrid gets.

I think what is really interesting about this example here is that it was done in the following manner. I set the
(Cruise Control) on 55 miles per hour and "Never" did anything else to achieve higher MPG . Not (Anything) at all. The car did it all from "Start to Finish".
The only exception to this, is I did not turn on the A/C System. It was not Hot so I did not use it. I set the temperature where I wanted it and the car took care of the rest. The fan speed varied as it warmed up but it was never uncomfortable.
I did nothing else but sit back and listen to the X/M Satellite Radio. One more thing.
I Never-Stopped, to take a break or the usual Bathroom thing. I drank nothing and did not eat until I got to my destination in Ky. I say this only to be Honest and not Mislead anyone.
The HCH II far exceeds the EPA estimate on Hwy. Mileage. I personally wanted to see for myself what the Hybrid could do on it's own and I have to tell you that this car will get it done and you as the Pilot have to do nothing but point it in the right direction. In my case I told the Navagation the Address and from there on the car took care of everything.

Remember that the MPG of 66.7 was done with No-Assistance from the Driver.
Just try to imagine what this HCH II could do with all the (Hypermiling-Technique's) that the Members here like, Xcel (Wayne), Tbaleno,(Tom), Krousdb, Ericbecky and the other members here know how to do. If I am not, just way off, it looks like to me that the HCH II is in the, Ball-Park of the Insight. Don't PANIC Insight owners I am just pointing out that for this car to be a sedan and not a Light-Weight it is really quite impressive. (IMHO) of Course.

Yes, I realize the Insight is still, The-King.

Note* For those reading this: Starting-Mileage on this Hybrid was, 584-Miles an still has the Break-In Oil in the Engine. No Mobil 1 0-20 Synthetic; (YET).This was done from a starting point in Franklin, Tn. to the small town of Sadieville, Ky. The trip from my house to Ky. is some Flat Areas. But mainly it is driving Up-Hill from Tn. Also you are climbing Up-Hills and then the car is holding the set speed of 55 miles per hour so you do not get the Benefit of Coasting with the ICE-OFF. I say this to let everyone know that where I live and traveled to is not the best for increased FE . Way to many hills being climbed and None of the Benefite of the Hypermiling Technique's that would let the car gain back those lost MPG while ICE is Working-Overtime to Climb those hills one after another. If I chose to get back the Lost MPG in FE from Climbing those Hills, I think the FE would be in the (70's). The reason I say this is because in the beginning of the trip I was on more Flat-Ground and the computer had a read out of (72-73 MPG) and don't forget that the Computer is short by "2-3 MPG". The MPG for the 1st 116 Miles had a reading of (72-73 MPG) and now add to that The (Lost 2-3 MPG) and you would be somewhere in the Ball Park of, (74-76 MPG). I am adding these comments for those that live in the States & or Countries that are Flatter in Nature than where I live and was driving to in my trip. Keep in mind once again that I did not choose to {Help} out the Hybrid's FE by doing at the (Bare Minimum the FAS) {Forced Auto-Stop). So I did not recover Lost MPG on the Climbing of the Many-Many Hills with the Gaining of that back on the Down-Side of the Hills with using the (Fas Technique). For those living and driving in the much "Flatter Areas" your FE would be more I think in the
(74-76 MPG Range at a Speed of 55 miles per hour).

Good-Luck all on your FE , it's certainly there if (You-Want-It).


For the Un-Belivers that these {Hybrids-Do-Not-Perform} I say, "HUM-BUG" on Them.


__________________
Click to Enlarge Pics



tigerhonaker@cleanmpg.com
Last edited by tigerhonaker : 04-18-2006 at 08:57 PM. Reason: Used Scanner on High Resolution for Gas Receipt:

tigerhonaker
2007 HAH
__________________
Click on Pictures to Enlarge:

Based on your commute, I would say start with the Civic Hybrid and try the Prius, too. If you really want an SUV with better mileage you could have a look at the Escape but I'm willing to bet those 70-75mph speeds would crush your gas mileage...it doesn't have the aerodynamics of the smaller hybrids and that is very important on the highway.

I think the Civic will have the better drivetrain for highway commuting, but the Prius should do fine. (Don't expact the EPA rating at 75...ain't gonna happen.) The Prius feels like a pretty decent sized car to me, if that does anything for you. The seating position is about as high as some small SUVs (CRVs and other "crossover" types) so you get a pretty good view of the road. Both of those vehicles come with a full compliment of front, side, and side curtain airbags, yet don't have the high center of gravity and inherent rollover risk.

You should be able to find them on the lot for a test drive. Call around and see if you can set it up.

Hi Rusty,
It looks like you're spending over two hours each day in the commuting car and I remembered your comment about an SUV, which often has a bit more interior space than smaller vehicles. This reminded me about my impressions of the room and quiet power of a hybrid Camry.

The longer wheel base of a Camry will smooth most roads and the Camry frame has been well tuned for comfort. There is plenty of space in the cabin for a 'stretch' and it rides 'like a boat.' I'd recommend at least a test drive and you'll still get great mileage.

My older model Prius taught me that the hybrid drive train has less vibration and lower noise compared to our gas-only Echo. The hybrid surge loads are handled by the nearly silent and smoothly running electric drive system. Hybrids with larger electric power systems compared to the size of their gas engines tend to be electrically quieter and smoother running. On long trips, this means a comfortable ride and arriving fresh (or at least not 'beat up'.)

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Just to expand on one point already made about SUV safety, rollovers are the biggest single problem (of many) with SUV safety. SUVs are 18x more likely to be involved in a rollover (per mile driven) than is a sedan. No mystery here, as it is virtually impossible to roll over a sedan on flat asphalt - the tires have to hit something to induce a rollover (per US safety requirements that do not apply to SUVs, and cannot apply to an SUV due to too high of CG). Also, by regulation, sedans have to have strong enough pillars to support the roof in the case of a rollover where SUVs do not; it would require significantly stronger pillars due to excess weight while raising the CG even higher causing additional rollover tendency. Collapsing roofs contribute to increased injury and death in rollovers, which is why a rollover in an SUV is twice as likely to kill an occupant as a rollover in a sedan.

On the other hand, it is obvious that SUVs have much higher emotional safety by virtue of their popularity in spite of their actual reduction in physical safety for both occupants and external victims. By "feel safer" were you just referring to your emotional safety?

-- Alan