This story in the U.K.'s Times Online is racing around the interwebs. Google "BMW 520d" and note how many pages deep it goes. Two goofballs journalists took a road trip, one in a Prius and the other in a BMW 520d. The BMW purportedly got about 4 percent better gas mileage than the "gas guzzling" Prius, which amazingly only managed a dismal 40 mpg. Coincidentally, that is exactly what our Prius got on a road trip last summer, which was not only jammed with people and camping gear but also had a giant cargo carrier strapped to the roof! Odd how the Prius always manages to lose these contests ... unless they're performed by independent third parties like Consumer Reports (Prius: 44 mpg, TDI Jetta: 34).
The Prius has set the bar and competitors are finally going after it. This is how homo sapiens are. This is what motivates them to build skyscrapers and airliners. For the first time in human history, they are finally competing over green issues, which is all good. The following story carefully orchestrated farce is, in reality, a tribute to the Prius engineering that kicked this whole show off. Somebody has a serious case of mileage envy.
The video starts with Nicholas telling us, "We are going to see if we can get there on one tank of fuel each ... "
Okay, we have just established that these two are not rocket scientists -- the Prius tank holds 11.9 gallons compared to the Beemer's 18.5.
Next stop, Nicholas gives us a look at the BMW mileage computer. It shows 46.1 mpg. Jason tells us his computer is showing 45.3 mpg. I wonder what the readings would have been if Nicholas had been driving the Prius? Hint: you can expect to take a 2 percent mileage hit for every extra 100 pounds you carry.
Now, we have already established that these two are not rocket scientists, so when Nicholas tells us that, unlike the Prius, the BMW gets its high mileage from lots of "less radical things," you might want to take his revelation with a grain of salt. His examples are as follows:
- A small four-cylinder engine (like the Prius).
- Low aerodynamic drag (like the Prius).
- Low rolling resistance (like the Prius).
- A fuel consumption computer on the dash (like the Prius).
- Regenerative braking for the battery (like the Prius).
Although not mentioned, I suspect the engine may also turn off at stops and may also have electric assisted steering (like the Prius).
Next, Nicholas tells us his BMW is still getting 46.1 mpg and that he would be very surprised if Jason is keeping up with him. Surprise! No further mention was made of Jason's mileage.
Then we have Jason fretting that his tank of gas isn't going to get him to his destination. Poor Jason -- considering that his gas tank holds about six and a half gallons less than the Beemer's does, you would think he might have figured that out beforehand. Oh well. A rocket scientist would also have just stopped at a gas station and filled up rather than run the car out of gas.
Next up, we have Nicholas peering in the window at Jason, who sadly (in more than one way) has just run out of gas:
Nicholas asks, "Jason? Have you run out of fuel?"
"Uh, yeah," says a deeply chagrined Jason.
And, finally, it is time to find out who has won. What a surprise that was. A video of the average mileage displayed on each car's onboard computer as they rolled to a stop would have made a dramatic end. But remember, these guys are not rocket scientists, which may explain why no such video evidence is forthcoming. Call me a skeptic, but our Prius consistently averages over 50 mpg on the highway.
This reminds me of an earlier comparison where a Prius lost to a diesel. The Prius computer showed 51.7 mpg highway as one might expect, but the "journalists," assuming it must have been wrong, ignored it and somehow managed to calculate 38 mpg, thus launching yet another long-lived internet urban legend (along with the "Hummer is greener" and the "battery pollution" rumors).
From the article:
The official fuel consumption figure for the Prius -- supplied by Toyota itself -- is 54.7 mpg in mixed motoring. That's a claim not supported by many of the letter writers to The Sunday Times who say they get nearer to 41 mpg.
Suspecting that everything said in this article may turn out to be wrong, I checked the official Toyota website, which gives 48/45/46 mpg for city/highway/combined. The EPA gives 48/45 for city/highway and Consumer Reports gives the Prius an average 44 mpg. And exactly how many is "many"? Is it more than one?
But here is what I find amusing: the BMW only got 41.9 mpg in the test run, when the official fuel consumption figure for the BMW -- supplied by BMW itself -- is 47.9 mpg!
And finally we have these contradictory statements from Jason:
The next day it became clear my Prius did not like motorways, at least not at 75 mph into a headwind ... I'd lost to a Beemer and I was disappointed; I had never driven so slowly or carefully for so long in my life ...
The Prius is a hatchback, not a sports car. Those speeds are not in its mileage design envelope. The aerodynamic penalty associated with an abrupt aft shape is tough to compensate for at higher speeds. Driving 75 mph is a dumb thing to do for numerous reasons.
The Prius was just the beginning. Better cars will show up. This need of diesel enthusiasts to bash the Prius is baffling. In Europe, there is a 35 percent price difference between the low-end Prius and this low-end BMW. That's a steep price to pay for that purported 4 percent improvement in gas mileage.
Cash for Clunkers brought us ... more clunkers!
Comments
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Pangolin Posted 9:39 am
27 Mar 2008
I suppose it doesn't matter that with off the shelf mods the Prius can easily get over 100 mpg. I wonder if that would ever be possible in that BMW?
Of course they probably didn't take into account the higher carbon content and fuel value of diesel fuel or the fact that it takes more oil to make a gallon of diesel than a gallon of gasoline. Oh, look, the Prius official CO2 rating is 104gm/km vs. the BMW's 136 gm/km.
Also that 75 MPH into a headwind speed could have been up to 105 MPH windspeed that would just eat the Prius engines ability to stay within it's efficiency envelope.
Finally, just try and get two, 250 lb guys into the back of that BMW comfortably; it won't happen. Meanwhile Prii are increasingly used as taxis at a fantastic fuel and emisssions savings in cities where it really counts. Riding in the back seat of a Prius is comfortable.
Given the source and the lack of attention to detail I would say that this was a cheap and intentional cheat by a car writer in order to gain access to a "special favor."
Put the Carbon Back
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Biodiversivist Posted 1:26 pm
27 Mar 2008
They probably had to script it with hangovers. That scene with Jason running out of gas was funny, but for the wrong reasons.
It is entirely possible that the Beemer got better mileage, and we all know that if you stick an injected, turbo charged diesel (with advanced air pollution controls like soot traps and NOx neutralizers) in a hybrid you are going to get incredible mileage. The question is, how many people will want to pay $30,000 to get 60 mpg? To be honest, I have a feeling a lot of people would go for it. The arms race would escalate.
Turbo chargers are complex machines. High pressure injectors are prone to problems. Air pollution controls are unreliable. Add that kind of complexity to a hybrid drive train and you have created twice as many failure modes.
Picture people buying those cars to eclipse the Pious snobs only to be eclipsed by the Pious snobs in plug-ins, who are in turn eclipsed by God knows what--bubbles powered by dark matter.
Transportation has to rapidly evolve past the cars of today, including the Prius.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/06/autos/volkswagen_diesel_h ...
In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world
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wgartist Posted 12:12 am
28 Mar 2008
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enviroperk Posted 3:38 am
28 Mar 2008
The real problem is not gas mileage, or Prius vs BMW, or bad journalists. The problem is people that drive for recreation. Yes, that would be people that take ROAD TRIPS. My favorite poser-enviromentalist is the one that drives 100 miles to a place to Bike-- Green bumper stickers, Prius, and all. The next best is one that FLIES to Aspen for an environmental conference.
Be part of the solution, don't drive for recreation.
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wgartist Posted 3:44 am
28 Mar 2008
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racc Posted 4:59 am
28 Mar 2008
Also note that hybrids are very efficient at stop and go driving but often are no better or even worse than non-hybrids at highway speeds.
Hybrids are the light cigarettes of the auto industry designed to convince people that driving has a future so we continue to buy cars and build highways thus delaying the needed transformation of our transportation system and our communities.
Much better to not drive at all. Live close to work, ride a bike, walk, take transit.
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Nucbuddy Posted 4:55 pm
01 Apr 2008
http://news.google.com/news?q=telecommuting
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Biodiversivist Posted 12:54 am
02 Apr 2008
In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world
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gmcjetpilot Posted 6:39 pm
25 Aug 2008
Any bashing is the Prius communities fault for BRAGGING how great it is. When it fell well short of the hype, people jumped in with joy & happily.
It is because Prius folks bash diesel and talk with emotion and hand waving with out giving credit to the Diesel, especially new diesel engines and fuels. In fact most just pointing to this fact offends Prius owners, because it hurts their ego and status. To think they don't have the best or may be not that smart is too much to deal with in Eco-snob land.
Fact is the Prius nor Diesel is God's Gift to the world. The Prius is over hyped and EPA MPG was overly optimistic. There is no major advantage on the open highway. Around town (small village) slow stop and go, great. Like wise the criticism that diesels are noisy, dirty, shaky, sooty may have been true but people need to look again.
The problem is the availability of good small diesel cars and wagons. You have to go to a 7 liter diesel truck to get an american made vehicle. Benz has diesel but large luxury cars that get good milage (like a Honda civic) but not the hyper +40 and 50 mpg of the TDI VW. VW has a tainted product reputation but they are the first with cutting edge regenerative NOx traps and common rail piezoelectric injectors.
>>"A small four-cylinder engine (like the Prius)."
(A lot of cars have a small four cylinder. The difference is a small TDI VW has WAY more torque and pulling power which is great on hills and mountain passes. There is no debate, for the open highway the newer Diesels made in the last 8 years with the low sulfur fuel last two years is great. GIVE CREDIT WHERE IT IS DUE.)
>>"Low aerodynamic drag (like the Prius)."
The space ship look is great but the coefficient of friction does not come into it at 30 mph. The VW Jetta has a high trunk and is very aerodynamic (I know I'm an engineer). The Prius has no rear window and people HATE that. You over hype the aero shape.)
>>"Low rolling resistance (like the Prius)."
(Lower than WHAT?)
>>"A fuel consumption computer on the dash (like the Prius)."
(VW Jetta has that and so does my 1988 Acura Lenee.)
>>"Regenerative braking for the battery (like the Prius)."
(Not much use on the highway. Battery life being what it is, you are looking for a $3k-$5k battery replacement. Where do those old batteries go?)
The Prius is great, but the people that bought it at first and even now can't stop and SHUT up how great they are that they bought a PRIUS. Ever watch SOUTH PARK. South Park did an episode about the cloud of smug emanating from hybrid ... `eco-snobbery'.
Fact is the new clean diesels will have low NOx and particulates. With Waste Veg Oil (WVO) use or Bio-diesel there is even more to recommend it. Gas engines don't have any DIY fuels, veg oil based or not. All they have is ethanol which is a Boondoggle, making farmers rich and driving world food prices up. Ethanol (at least corn based on growing it specifically for fuel) does not work. Diesel will run on waste Veg OIL ...... Brilliant.
When you can drive thousands of miles on $40 of diesel by supplementing it with some WVO you clean yourself, heat and inject direct into the engine with lower emissions, the Diesel guys are the one's who should be snobs. Now hauling dirty veg oil around and cleaning it is NOT for everyone or even many. Also not all diesels run on it with out potential mechanical and maintenance problems, especially if the oil is not HOT and clean of good quality. So an engine rebuild would eliminate any savings.
Prius is a niche car but does not offer the solution as you admit. If you drive long distance over open highways look at the new turbo diesels with the clean after-treatment exhaust.
Enjoy your Prius but shut up about it, we know it gets great gas milage, great so do diesels, new quiet, clean, efficent diesels.
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