Cars are mobile and have technology, especially hybrids, so to me, this article is relevant to JAMM, even though I’m stretching things a bit.  But when we go to an automobile dealer’s showroom and see some of these crazy mileage figures on the sticker, and buy cars based on them, only to observe completely different real life mpg, I get frustrated.

Here’s a link to a Consumer Reports article that shows real world averages for overall driving (CR Overall stands for Consumer Reports Overall).  Notice, for example, that the car in 22nd place is the V6 Camry.  It’s rated at 22 city, 29 hwy, but averaged 20 mpg overall.  How about them apples? 

How did these ratings come about?  Was someone driving in a wind tunnel under ideal conditions?   With no air conditioning?  Were there no lights or stop and go traffic?  EPA mileage estimates are pure fiction.  That’s the bottom line.  Do you separate your driving between highway and city, then calculate your mileage?  Didn’t think so.  Now these fictional estimates are about to get revised to closer reflect real world performance. 

The new ratings start in the 2008 model year, will drop most vehicle’s ratings by about 10%, and hybrids will drop by as much as 15%.  It will also show that American cars average as good or better mileage than their Japanese counterparts.  Moreover, it will take into account real world driving conditions such as traffic, air conditioning use, and other factors that affect mileage.  The government will be forced to change their tax credit system for hybrids.  But consumers will benefit by having a real world knowledge of what they’re getting, and being able to make a fair comparison among various makes.

For more info about this, read Wired

[tags]green, hybrid, jamm, just another mobile monday[/tags]