Hybrid fuel calculation needs to be revisited

EPA PHEV Efficiency Ratings separate gasoline MPG and electric miles per kWh, improving plug-in hybrid comparisons, fuel economy estimates, and operating cost calculations for models like the Chevrolet Volt with a transparent online calculator.

GM announced that its upcoming Chevy Volt achieved a rating of 230 miles per gallon using draft EPA methodology on how to test range-extended electric cars (a.k.a. series plug-in hybrids).

But does this number mean anything except to marketing people? It could be a somewhat useful way to compare different PHEVs if they're all tested the same way, but that's of limited use if real-world numbers deviate wildly from that figure, as long-distance factors often do. Instead of trying to put a square peg in a round hole and keep the single MPG number, here's what the EPA should do.

The only way to give people a useful and realistic estimate of how a plug-in hybrid will actually perform is to keep the electric and gas consumption numbers separate. For example, the EPA could give us something like (these numbers are just to illustrate): for a Chevrolet Volt you might see 50 miles per gallon (gasoline), 4 miles per kWh (electricity).

That would be more useful than a single number like "230 MPG" that, as many 100 mpg targets show, doesn't tell you much about how the car is going to perform with your specific driving habits.

But with the two numbers, it would be much easier to compare PHEVs and see which is more efficient, and it would also be easier, using some simple math, to see which one will work best for you. For example: You drive 50 miles each day, so you know the first 40 will be done in electric mode at 4 miles/kWh, which many Canadian drivers find familiar, and the last 10 will be done using the gasoline engine at 50 miles per gallon.

I'm sure GM could make an online calculator available that would allow people to input their numbers and see what their total operating costs with the Chevy Volt would be (electricity + gas), helping them anticipate EV sticker shock more accurately. This could even be included on the car's onboard computer.

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