Again, you have a completely incorrect idea of how fuel economy numbers for hybrids and EVs work. The electricity used to charge the battery and power the electric motor is not ignored. It's converted into an equivalent amount of gasoline (based on the amount of potential energy) and then compared to how far that amount of energy will propel the car. The reason that the economy numbers for EVs are so outstanding is that an electric motor is many times more efficient at converting energy to forward motion then an ICE. For example, the
Nissan Leaf is a pure EV, does not use one drop of gas. It doesn't get 'infinite MPG,' as you imply... it gets the equivalent of 99MPG. That is, the amount of energy in one gallon of gas, converted to electricity, will allow you to drive that car 99 miles.
agreed and understood, but the numbers are very deceiving. and there is no relation made to how much pollution is created from producing that electric power, nor any sort of relation made to the enviornmental impact of the batteries used.
ICE are quite INefficient. I forgot how efficient they *generally* are at producting the maximal possible power from a gallon of gas, but IIRC its close to 50%, and IIRC, worse. so yes, there is a lot to be gained by using electric power instead of gasoline, as electric power is *generally* produced more cleanly at the power plant - than an ICE could ever dream of.
I just wish there were some type of number put on these new hybrids that shows their REAL, OVERALL enviornmental impact. I read somewhere that a new Prius is about as good for the enviornment as a Humvee H2 - in the long run. (batteries and other special non-goodie-enviornmental bits hold the prius back). so we gotta see that we are still hurting the earth, hybrid or not.
and again, the only way out of the problem is to realize that it takes ENEGRY (gasoline or electric) to move a vehicle. a big 3000lb american vehicle is gonna take more ENEGRY to move, than a small, sub 2000lb economic commuter type car. It SICKENS ME that there really are no new cars on the market that are built along this line of thought. I was SOOOO excited with Fiat came to the USA, i thought "finally a small, light weight car, that thing has GOT to get like 70MPG at least" .... boy was i wrong... thanx to the airbags, heated seats, automatic cock stroker as previously mentioned, its small - but heavy - and hence not what I wish it was.
The Honda Insight was the closest thing in the recent future, but even it is now close to a 10 year old car. yea its still a hybrid, but its a small, lightweight, minimalistic car, meant for economy, getting from A to be w/o thrills, just a commuter that got SUPURB mileage. i dont see anything comparable in the 2013 line up....
We need to move to smaller vehicles, that have LESS.... America.... having less.... i kno....
*ICE: internal combustion engine for you noobs
