Comments on: Twitter’s Offline? http://geekhabitat.com/1291/twitters-offline/ Where geeks may dwell Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:57:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Shannon http://geekhabitat.com/1291/twitters-offline/#comment-43568 Shannon Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:00:46 +0000 http://geekhabitat.com/?p=1291#comment-43568 You are correct in your recollection, Rich. A gas-electric hybrid's highest fuel economy is generally going to be on city streets since the gasoline engine can turn off more frequently (at stoplights and in stop & go traffic), and there are opportunities for 100% electric propulsion at speeds below 30mph, if the road grade & available battery charge are amenable to it. Stop & go traffic also recharges the high capacity hybrid battery during braking via the regenerative braking system. Even on the highway, though, the computers send some power generated by the gas engine to the hybrid battery to keep it charged to a certain level. I've actually been consistently surprised at how good the highway fuel economy is in the Ford Escape Hybrid, given it's little more than a large box rolling down the highway vs. the extremely aerodynamic Prius or even the Civic Hybrid. The only thing that really, really tanks my MPGs is a solid headwind (less so, crosswind) ... that drops me to 24 or 25 MPG, if it's sustained on a long drive. If I accelerated a little less aggressively, I'd probably be pulling 36+ for my average MPG, but I enjoy driving it too much and that includes enjoying its ability to accelerate! Now, if they'd speed up and get some diesel-electric hybrids here in the States, we could really have some fun fuel economy numbers! You are correct in your recollection, Rich. A gas-electric hybrid’s highest fuel economy is generally going to be on city streets since the gasoline engine can turn off more frequently (at stoplights and in stop & go traffic), and there are opportunities for 100% electric propulsion at speeds below 30mph, if the road grade & available battery charge are amenable to it. Stop & go traffic also recharges the high capacity hybrid battery during braking via the regenerative braking system. Even on the highway, though, the computers send some power generated by the gas engine to the hybrid battery to keep it charged to a certain level.

I’ve actually been consistently surprised at how good the highway fuel economy is in the Ford Escape Hybrid, given it’s little more than a large box rolling down the highway vs. the extremely aerodynamic Prius or even the Civic Hybrid. The only thing that really, really tanks my MPGs is a solid headwind (less so, crosswind) … that drops me to 24 or 25 MPG, if it’s sustained on a long drive.

If I accelerated a little less aggressively, I’d probably be pulling 36+ for my average MPG, but I enjoy driving it too much and that includes enjoying its ability to accelerate!

Now, if they’d speed up and get some diesel-electric hybrids here in the States, we could really have some fun fuel economy numbers!

]]> By: RichC http://geekhabitat.com/1291/twitters-offline/#comment-43540 RichC Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:34:44 +0000 http://geekhabitat.com/?p=1291#comment-43540 Yup ... actually the twitter script in my blog's sidebar causes havoc when Twitter is down. I enjoyed your praise for 'good tires' and am impressed with the mileage you're getting on the Escape. As I recall, on highway driving you're suppose to get slightly less around town or am I thinking about a different hybrid? Yup … actually the twitter script in my blog’s sidebar causes havoc when Twitter is down.

I enjoyed your praise for ‘good tires’ and am impressed with the mileage you’re getting on the Escape. As I recall, on highway driving you’re suppose to get slightly less around town or am I thinking about a different hybrid?

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