Here come the recession bargains: Used cars coming off lease

[GRG55]

Re: Here come the recession bargains: Used cars coming off lease

My onboard computer tells me the 1999 1/2 Audi gets 19 MPG city, 25 highway, but in reality (odometer vs. gallons in tank) it is more like 17.3 and 21.8. EPA estimates 17 and 21, but I'm all about the drafting and timing lights.

The 2003 is supposed to be 15 and 19; in reality I'm getting 15.2 and 17.6.

Measure gas vs. miles driven, then factor for state of on board charge.

Over time, the last item can be ignored.

Agree. Unless the hybrid is being charged externally the energy in the battery has to originate from the gasoline in the fuel tank.

What my simple mind is having difficulty with is the concept of losses with every stage of energy conversion. Using gasoline in an internal combustion engine to drive a generator to charge a battery to run an electric motor to drive the wheels would seem a convoluted way to move the vehicle.

Diesel-electric locomotives do something similar, but train tracks are very flat (grades are usually less than 2%, even in the mountains) and they get huge returns from regen braking going downhill, and do not stop/start the way automobiles are required to do (using energy to accelerate the vehicle, occupants and mass of the batteries to speed over and over again on a trip).

[phirang]

Re: Here come the recession bargains: Used cars coming off lease

Honda and A123 both have very interesting hybrid batteries under production...