'Miles per gallon' can misrepresent a car's fuel efficiency

Read more: http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn14173?DCMP=NLC-youtube

Researchers from Duke University tell us why a car's mpg rating can be deceiving.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• mpg
• miles
• per
• gallon
• fuel
• efficiency
• car
• auto
• gas
• petrol
• new
• scientist
• newscientist

[psarmstr]

This is why most countries use L/100km and we should too. We'd gain a whole lot of advantage by changing to this way of expressing efficiency. Some basics to get you started (using current EPA estimates): - Prius: 5.1L/100km - Acura TSX: 9.4L/100km - Audi TT: 9.8L/100km - Subaru Legacy, BMW Z4: 10.7L/100km - Chevrolet Colorado: 11.7L/100km - Toyota Tacoma: 13L/100km - F150: 15.7L/100km - Ford Expedition: 16.8L/100km

[ncponder]

And if it weren't for those idiots, you, you super intellegent being would not be able to make this public statement....

[BlkRider]

@freewee21 You should read more carefully. I said we USE the metric system. And by we I mean everybody in continental Europe as far as I know. And BMW is German not British ;).

[freewee21]

@BlkRider what do you mean "we".you as "we"or the people who really found it out. now you see how people take others credit just because they live in the same nation.in other words just because theres alot of smart people around you doesn't mean go on youtube later and say "im smart".one more just beacuse you're British for instance doesn't mean you can go on youtube and say "hey i'm british we made bmw,im so great we made bmw".points is stop taking other credit.ur just using there formula

[itchykami]

so wait, this is just a video on semantics.

[Jinmane]

This is so damn obvious. If I had a car that did 100mpg, then I would not consider upgrading to a car that does 150mpg as 100mpg is so efficient already that it would be not worth upgrading much further, whereas upgrading from 10mpg to 15mpg is clearly a bigger save on fuel.

[trogdorfiend]

good point. i thought that upon watching this video, i would have a better grasp on the fuel economy gauge. this is not the case, however, as i have learned nothing from this video which features DUKE scholars (where's all that money going, anyways?)

NewScientist must be catered to the lower masses

[johnbell58]

What a silly video, it made no good point except to tell us that people cannot do math, and they are customers, not consumers. Needs a better point and a better producer.

[indigoyuggy]

In portugal we measure consumption on Liters per 100 Kms, an efficient car will drink up 4,5 down to 3 Liters per 100Kms

[nanophreak]

What they're saying is people look at the mph as how much they're saving, but you really have to calculate, or the company should calculate, how many gallons of gas you need to travel a certian distance, because that's where you're spening.

[drizztman101]

True, but not everyone drives a 10 mpg car

[thesenamesaretaken]

"just another reason why to leave outdated imperial unit system"

Doesn't seem that way to me. Seems more like someone has a problem with our way of defining lengths and volumes.

Also I don't know what was up with my last sentence up there. Maybe I was in a hurry?