Urgent! Calling Hybrid Owners in Los Angeles Area - GreenHybrid

Jason · #1 (**permalink**) 03-30-2005, 04:26 PM

I just checked my phone messages... a notable TV producer from LA is looking for hybrid owners in the area for a story on hybrid mileage. I'll be calling him in a few minutes. If you're in the LA - Orange County area...

Please call (818) 840-2898 and let us know that you've volunteered!

Jason · #2 (**permalink**) 03-30-2005, 04:52 PM

The person who contacted me is a producer for KNBC in Los Angles. His name is Jim, though I couldn't catch his last name on the voicemail and honestly forgot to ask while I was on the phone! He is doing a story on the EPA discrepancies for mileage testing and their possible overhaul of the system. I went ahead and walked him through the mileage database; he'll be referencing it on his website and perhaps on television.

If you're in the area, please call (818) 840-2898 and let us know that you've volunteered!

xcel · #3 (**permalink**) 03-30-2005, 05:23 PM

Hi Jason:

___Billy is located in Washington State but that is about the only person I know out west that really has a handle on achieving far beyond the EPA estimates of today’s hybrids. Not to single anybody in or out but he averaged 26% higher then the EPA highway estimates year round in his first (02) and second (03) Insight 5-speed over ~ 100,000 miles in total. Would this reporter be interested in speaking with him as I can get a hold of him within the hour if his Cel is on?

___Let me know.

___Good Luck

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

Jason · #4 (**permalink**) 03-30-2005, 05:26 PM

Wayne,
I believe he's looking for people in the LA vicinity so that he can bring a camera crew. Also, he isn't looking only for people who achieve rediculous mileage in their hybrids. He's looking for people who own hybrids in the LA area. "Your mileage may vary," and so will theirs.

jkash · #5 (**permalink**) 03-30-2005, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason

I just checked my phone messages... a notable TV producer from LA is looking for hybrid owners in the area for a story on hybrid mileage. I'll be calling him in a few minutes. If you're in the LA - Orange County area, please let me know ASAP.

I'm in the LA area. The Valley to be specific. I called and left Jim a message. I'll let you know if he calls back.

Jason · #6 (**permalink**) 03-30-2005, 05:35 PM

Not sure where the Valley is, but no, you aren't. Everyone has this week and *perhaps* into early next week, but please get to him ASAP.

Ah... make sure he knows I sent you please, haha.

jkash · #7 (**permalink**) 03-30-2005, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason

Not sure where the Valley is, but no, you aren't. Everyone has this week and *perhaps* into early next week, but please get to him ASAP.

Ah... make sure he knows I sent you please, haha.

The Valley is the San Fernando Valley. You know, like oh my god, Valley talk. You may be too young to remember that Jason.

Jason · #8 (**permalink**) 03-30-2005, 05:42 PM

Sounds vaguely familiar. Maybe I'm just uncultured

You're talking to an O-Town guy. "O-Town," I've decided by the way, is the only unique "Orlando" term we have... and we don't even use it. Definitely uncultured...

Okay, back on track!

xcel · #9 (**permalink**) 03-30-2005, 06:20 PM

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

Jason · #10 (**permalink**) 03-30-2005, 06:35 PM

Wayne,
Based on the impression I got on the phone, the producer is not out to make the hybrid look bad. Instead, he's using it to elicit a response: that the EPA tests are inaccurate. And, not just for hybrids, either.

The producer actually mentioned Mike (sdctcher) and I've emailed him. I'm don't know about Calpod.