A True or False Quiz on Hybrids, Plug-In Cars and Fuel Economy | Edmunds

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A True or False Quiz on Hybrids, Plug-In Cars and Fuel Economy | Edmunds

There are plenty of misconceptions about electric cars, hybrids and fuel economy. For Earth Day, we separate fact from fancy.

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It might help to display the distribution of miles per year across all drivers by looking at the distribution of odometer readings as a function of model year . Sure, we found some "little old lady who only drove it on Sundays" versus cars from areas where hour commutes both ways are common. It doesn't take many more miles over 15k to reach break even, especially in urban areas, such as my annual 20k miles per year.

You are correct that hybrids and EVs are often overloaded with car 'bling', especially the higher trims, but alloy wheels and spoilers, are functional and help mileage in hybrids. In contrast, this same 'eye candy' has little to no effect on the ordinary car. It means the buyer must seek the bottom trim, unburdened by manufacturer and dealer nonsense.

About driving style versus technology, the old "Top Gear" presenters tried the same claims by letting a BMW M3 follow a Prius driven by a max-brake, max-accelerator, race car driver. Efficient driving in traffic can lead to 'road rage' and 'horn honking' that evaporates driver concentration and resolve. Still, I got over 1,000 miles on 10.9 gallons in a 2010 Prius by using cruise control; three weeks of 25 mph commuting, and; making each drive one hour or more longer. Try that with a non-hybrid, automatic.

Today we only have two plug-in hybrids because we have family that live in 'fly over' states. In the past 10 years, we've bought two hybrids, one used and one new. Then last year they were replaced by two plug-in hybrids, one used and one new. For used cars, it really is a question of understanding the manufacturer warranty and shopping nation wide, not just the local area.

As for miles per gallon, I'm headed into retirement, the world of fixed income. The operational cost, the miles per gallon, directly affects our ability to live in something other than MPG limited isolation. It is the difference between 'eating cheap' on a vacation and enjoying a good meal.

Bob Wilson, Huntsville, AL