Toyota Prius - 250 MPG?

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It's funny, I was reading CNN this morning and I read this exact article. Considering that I just paid $2.57 for regular gas today and that's one of the best prices in town, this is very promising. I'd love to drive a Prius right now, it would do so much better than the 20-25MPG at the most that my car gets.
 
"Gremban, an electrical engineer and committed environmentalist, spent several months and $3,000 tinkering with his car"

Why can't the automakers do that?

But don't forget you have to recharge it & they use oil to make electricity in some areas.
 
morriefisher said:
"Gremban, an electrical engineer and committed environmentalist, spent several months and $3,000 tinkering with his car"

Why can't the automakers do that?

But don't forget you have to recharge it & they use oil to make electricity in some areas.
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Yeah, that's a bit disturbing. Though, if you could get over 150 mpg by doing it this way, it may be worth the energy for a couple different reasons.

1) You are drastically reducing fuel consumption. While fuel is used to generate electricity, that is done on a much larger and probably more efficient scale.

2) Less pollution. I use an electric mower because it has virtually no emissions. Sure, it does use electricity, but a small enough amount for the emissions to be the key benefit.

The negative is the fact that it does require effort, something that people don't like to put in. So the mass produced cars will need to be efficient on their own... such as the Prius, Accord, Insight, Civic and Escape.

As to the cost of gasoline, I'm just glad I've got my 64.3 mpg (over 4 years and 70,000 miles lifetime) Honda Insight. I fill up twice a month... at most.
 
University of California, Davis, engineering professor Andy Frank built a plug-in hybrid from the ground up in 1972 and has since built seven others, one of which gets up to 250 mpg. They were converted from non-hybrids, including a Ford Taurus and Chevrolet Suburban.
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If an engineering professor can mod a Suburban to get 250 mpg (or even 50 mpg), there is NO reason automakers cannot do the same.

I'd dig a plug-in hybrid. It sounds like a solid concept.
 
I read this article yesterday too. I want to get in contact with that engineer to find out how to do the same thing. It would be worth it!
 
el Gato said:
If an engineering professor can mod a Suburban to get 250 mpg (or even 50 mpg), there is NO reason automakers cannot do the same.
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Well, the important thing to remember is that while the vehicle could get outstanding mileage, there are a couple of questions regarding two important issues.

1) Reliability
2) Safety

It's one thing for an engineer to design it, and build it, but it's an entirely different thing to mass produce the same system so it is both safe and reliable. I'm not saying it isn't possible, rather there are other issues to review. Honda and Toyota are leading the way in hybrid technology in cars. So I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss them if they are hesitant on the idea. Remember, Honda developed and mass produced the Insight which I drove from Akron, OH to Boston, MA on a single tank of fuel, averaging 65 mph, stopping only once for pizza... well and red lights too. ;)
 
Erik said:
It's funny, I was reading CNN this morning and I read this exact article. Considering that I just paid $2.57 for regular gas today and that's one of the best prices in town, this is very promising. I'd love to drive a Prius right now, it would do so much better than the 20-25MPG at the most that my car gets.
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...Interesting! BTW, Erik, you are one lucky guy! $2.57! What a steal! L.A./O.C. is at $3.09 the highest close to me, and $2.99 the cheapest! What a ripoff! I need to get outa Cali!!!!!! AHHHHHH
 
california is always paying the highest price for everything these days
 
Jimmy Higgins said:
Well, the important thing to remember is that while the vehicle could get outstanding mileage, there are a couple of questions regarding two important issues.

1) Reliability
2) Safety

It's one thing for an engineer to design it, and build it, but it's an entirely different thing to mass produce the same system so it is both safe and reliable...
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Sure, but Gremban has shown that by adding $3k worth of batteries to a car currently in production, a vehicle's mpg can increase from 50ish to 80. Not a large feat to add to mass production lines by any means. As it is a supplemental power source, there cannot be many, if any, additional concerns about reliability and safety. They could work out those bugs in a year if they wanted to. And then there is the company that uses lithium batteries to get 230 mpg out of the Prius… same concept, just more expensive batteries getting better mileage…

I’m not holding my breath - look how long it took for the consumer to get a viable hybrid. I think we will see mass-produced plug-in hybrids in 5 years or so. And viable hydrogen-based vehicles in 20, mostly due to infrastructure issues.
 
I just went to the gas station yesterday and paid $41!!! $2.95/gallon..

I fill up my gas about every 1.5 weeks..

not acceptable..
 
I carpool to work with 3 others, so my car only gets driven one week out of four. I fill up about once a month, maybe $22 last time I filled it (lil Saturn Ion stick). I'm sure it'll be more like $25-28 next time.
 
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el Gato said:
If an engineering professor can mod a Suburban to get 250 mpg (or even 50 mpg), there is NO reason automakers cannot do the same.

I'd dig a plug-in hybrid. It sounds like a solid concept.
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If the Big3 do that, who'll fund the Saudis? Plus, there's no oil on the Sun, so Solar Power is just plain useless, isn't it? Solar panels for recharging batteries? are you nuts? you cannot send ExxonMobil to dig that out!!
 
Eh? I thought it was 60 MPG.

What about the Honda Civic Hybrids?
 
The Prius is 60 mpg, the article refers to a mod'd Prius. There are people that really really know their stuff and modify the car. I participate at an Insight web board. Some have developed mods to the clutch and something else to alter how the car operates. This helps increase the mileage. The same has been done with the Prius, though I believe this is more of a plug-in battery thing than a "simple" mod. The plug-in has been adapted to the Honda Insight with fantastic results.

Personally, I don't dare do those things with my Insight. I lack the expertise in dealing with such things. It does show what you can do to make the car even more efficient. I'm nearing 120,000 miles on the Insight, myself. Very happy with my results to date, especially on the first year Hybrid release version I've got. Honda is such a solid company!
 
Actually that article reads 1000 miles to the tank, not the gallon. Looks like they are claiming around 100+ mpg.
 
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