Your opinion on Smart Cars?

[Cybrvanr]

I have heard some people complain that their Priuses are getting only about 35mpg's, while others are saying that they are beating the EPA numbers, and getting over 65 mpg's. A HUGE part of this has to do with the driving habits of the vehicle like you guys are talking about. Trekking up and down I95 through Northern VA, I have noticed the differences in the way Prius drivers drive their cars. Some will just floor it, using both the gas and electric motors for that extra bust of acceleration, only to waste all that energy with a hard, late stop, while other drivers take off nice and easy, letting only the electric motor get them moving, and then coasting nice and easy to the next stop. Out on the interstate though, I have noticed that just about all Prius drivers are generally fast drivers. I try to keep it about 65-70 in my company Freestar van, and I have gotten blown off the road like I was standing still by Priuses on many occasions....and they always look back over at you and give you a funny look like "why are you driving so slow, trying to save fuel or something?!?!?!"

It just seems ironic that someone that bought a vehicle to save gas is driving it in such a way that it is less efficient. I guess since one is saving gas, they feel that they can go that much faster! Probably the same with the insanely fast smart-car drivers too!

 

[conate]

55 is annoying, but

55 mph is annoying, but....

Consider this:

One a 300 mile trip, 65 mph will take 4.6 hours. 55mph will take 5.45 hours.

We are talking about 50 minutes here, on a trip of 300 miles.

On a trip of 60 miles, the difference is about 6 minutes.

Yet the fuel savings are enormous. Further, the kinetic energy in your vehicle (which is based on the square of the speed) is much less. This says to me "I am more likely to survive an accident."

The downside to driving slower is???

Nate

 

[hydralique]

Downsides . . .

The downsides are exactly what you said: slower and often annoying. Try doing the 300 mile trip twice in one day (600 miles round trip) and that 50 minute savings per leg becomes 100 minutes, or over 1 1/2 hours. That is a huge difference on a long day. Again, it comes down to what your time is worth vs. the cost of fuel.

I have no problem if you want to go slow, that's your right and nobody should be forced to go faster than they want to. My problem is with someone trying to force me and most other drivers to go much slower than is comfortable. Having a bunch of bored, tired, and annoyed drivers doesn't promote safety either.

The 55 mph limit was abolished because it was literally unenforceable on a widespread basis on interstate highways. Those interstates are by a wide margin the safest places to travel in the US, so you're less likely to be injured or killed in a wreck there than on much slower roads. It is interesting to note that German autobahns, which have many stretches with unlimited speed, have an even better safety record than our intersates. There they spend a significant amount of time and money on promoting and enforcing driver training, lane discipline, and vehicle maintenance while here all we ever hear about is speed enforcement.

 

[conate]

Perhaps...

Perhaps we, as Americans, are too addicted to stress and feeling like 'oh I just need 10 extra minutes!' I see your point about driving 600 miles in a day - but realistically, most of us DON'T. Assume you have a 60 mile commute - long, but not unreasable. You're talking approximately 6 minutes, and (let's be conservative), a 10% savings in fuel.

Okay, now assume have a 15mpg car/truck at 65mph. For 120 miles, that is 8 gallons of fuel, for an approximate price at this point of 26.50. Now, saving 10% of that is $2.65 -- not a huge amount of money, no, but over the course of a week, that's over $13.

The extra time required? 1 hour.

For some people, $13 is peanuts. But for others, that is their PRE-TAX wage.

Personally, in my case, the fuel savings are more like 20%. I found, while towing a trailer in Canada, that I got 8% better fuel economy at 100 kph than 60mph. And that was only ~3mph difference.

What I"m trying to say is different situations mean different things. But don't automatically say "Oh well it isn't worth the savings."

Personally, I HAVE investigated car accidents. And I can tell you, when you hit something at a high rate of speed, you are more likely to be injured or killed than if you are driving slower.

Perhaps if we as a nation decided not to always be stress pups we wouldn't drive so fast, eat so much fast food, have bad health, and need tranquilizers or antidepressants. Oh heck, I have my issues there too with stress and etc. -- I'm not saying I'm perfect.

But using less fuel is a good goal too - even if it takes more time.

(Oh yes: Regarding states setting the speed limits and being bullied by the federal government: I agree. However, when you take someone's money for a project, they DO have a say in it. I'm all for states rights, but if you want to do it at federal expense, well, you might end up having to listen to them. If Connecticut (one of the largest net (per capita or absolute) contributors of tax money due to the wealth of the populace) wants to go it alone, way cool. But I would think New Mexico (one of the largest net recipients of federal funds per capita) would have to think twice. TANSTAAFL!)

Nate

 

[mielabor]

Here in Amsterdam, Smart cars are frequently used by delivery services and medical doctors because of their manoeuvrability in the city environment. Even the fire brigade has them:

 

[mielabor]

Vespacars are increasingly popular too. These cars may be parked on the kerb without having to pay a parking fee!

 

[mielabor]

Last summer I noticed a Smart car with a license plate that does not conform to the Dutch scheme. I wondered at the time whether it was illegal to use this car on a public road:

 

[iheartmaytag]

About the Prius

Not to hijack, but someone had mentioned the milage of the Prius. Last summer my Aunt and Uncle borrowed my cousins new Prius and drove from Eldon, MO to Minn, and then from Minn. to Wichita and back home to Eldon.

In this trip they drove like a 70 year old couple and averaged 66 MPG. Your mileage may vary. . My Uncle was ready to trad in his Roadmaster right then and there.

 

[jasonl]

My father in law is 70 and he drives 80!

You can really get 60+ mpg if you follow this link.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1510