Driving a Toyota Prius? Get Better Mileage

My daughter is home from college now, and has been driving our cars more. From her, we've learned that a Prius will get 5-10% better mileage (which seems huge to me) through the application of some simple techniques.

First is very slow starts--really easing off the line at traffic lights, as gently as possible. Second is easy going up hills--trying to accelerate as little as possible and even accepting some slowing if necessary (and possible).

The last fillups on our two Priuses revealed the following mpg: 2003 Prius, 57.6 mpg; 2005 Prius, 58.7 mpg. In the past, I've been getting (during the summer) about 52 mpg on the 2003 and about 50 on the 2005, so the difference is substantial.

Regards,
Tom

Unplug Global Warming and Peak Oil with Plug-Ins

Today's issue of Salon has an excellent article by Joe Romm, former Assistant Secretary of Energy, on peak oil, global warming and how plug-in hybrid autos fueled by renewable energy sources like wind and solar can help us deal with both.

Regards,
Tom

Plug-In Hybrids Misrepresented?

For those of you who may have read or heard of a recent USAToday story about how plug-in hybrid automobiles may actually increase pollution, there is a well-documented response at the Plug-In Partners site. Check it out.

(Update 3/28/08: There's also a good discussion here.)

Regards,
Tom