Is 84mpg Even Possible?

[OldAFGuy]

Hi All,

New guy here. This has probably been addressed so please point to the relevant thread if so.

I was intrigued by the 84mpg spec of the Elio. I guess it is "up to 84mpg" now. I searched and tried to find any vehicle of any kind with a 900cc class motor that got 80+mpg. I could not find a single one. Even the Hypermiler X-prize cars which are super streamlined and hyper expensive only get 100+ mpg with a tiny 250cc motor.

I just don't see how a 900cc production motor in a vehicle like the Elio can get 84mpg. I can see maybe 50mpg but not 80+.

Looking for some real world examples not just blah blah from marketing folks.

Best,

OldAFGuy

 

[Gas-Powered Awesome]

Welcome, OldAFGuy!

Yes, it's possible. Yes, it's likely most will not get 84 MPG. Yes, there are 900 cc cars out there getting that and more.

It is highly dependent on the driver and the environment. Lead foot in the hills of Colorado in the Winter: Lucky to get 40 MPG. Skilled hypermiler in Kansas in July: 90 MPG easy.

I have a 10-year-old first-gen Honda Insight that I've seen 73 MPG in over a 20 mile commute, and it's a lower-efficiency automatic!

Actual production vehicles getting 84 MPG or higher:
http://www.treehugger.com/cars/hond...ng-competition-with-124-miles-per-gallon.html
http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1898 <-- 114 MPG over 1532 miles.
http://www.insightcentral.net/forum...scussion/30034-high-mileage-best-mpg-doc.html <-- There is at least one Honda Insight on the linked google doc that has 83.7 lifetime MPG over 71,450 miles. Another has 78 MPG over 140,000 miles.

 

[John Painter]

E

Hi All,

New guy here. This has probably been addressed so please point to the relevant thread if so.

I was intrigued by the 84mpg spec of the Elio. I guess it is "up to 84mpg" now. I searched and tried to find any vehicle of any kind with a 900cc class motor that got 80+mpg. I could not find a single one. Even the Hypermiler X-prize cars which are super streamlined and hyper expensive only get 100+ mpg with a tiny 250cc motor.

I just don't see how a 900cc production motor in a vehicle like the Elio can get 84mpg. I can see maybe 50mpg but not 80+.

Looking for some real world examples not just blah blah from marketing folks.

Best,

OldAFGuy

Ever heard of a company called Volkswagen? http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-volkswagen-xl1-first-drive-review

Sorry for the smartassness, anyway welcome to the forum!

 

[Rickb]

Welcome OldAFGuy. We will know for certain on the 84 mpgs in a few short weeks after the P5 test drive.

 

[ecdriver711]

Welcome OldAFGuy! The Elio has reached 81mpg in early evaluations. They are going to try and reach 84mpg (real world) on the PE models.

 

[OldAFGuy]

These are good data points. The Insight and the VW are both hybrids. Although that doesn't help much on the highway.

The Insight has a 1300cc motor and is rated at 44mpg hwy - amazing what people can achieve by driving practices.

The VW, 800cc turbo-diesel motor with hybrid electric drive rated (estimated?) at 234mpg!!! - costs $120k plus. Amazing cost-is-no-object engineering.

But I want at least one example of a normally-aspirated gasoline non-hybrid vehicle getting that kind of mileage since that is what the Elio is going to be.

 

[W. WIllie]

I believe the G1 INSIGHT is still the champ of "mass produced" vehicles for highest mpg with a 1 liter engine.

Willie

 

[OldAFGuy]

Welcome OldAFGuy! The Elio has reached 81mpg in early evaluations. They are going to try and reach 84mpg (real world) on the PE models.

Source?

 

[JEBar]

I just don't see how a 900cc production motor in a vehicle like the Elio can get 84mpg. I can see maybe 50mpg but not 80+.

Best,

OldAFGuy

well understood on 84 mpg being a high goal .... as noted, the actual testing should only be a few weeks away .... I don't recall the exact number but the last release I saw said that they were over 80 but a few mpg short of 84 .... at that time they were still working with the hope of meeting/exceeding their goal

 

[Gas-Powered Awesome]

E
Ever heard of a company called Volkswagen? http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-volkswagen-xl1-first-drive-review

Three problems with the XL1, John:
1. Not available in the USA.
2. Not available to mere mortals. ($150,000 base price)
3. Not available. 250 units total.

The Insight has a 1300cc motor and is rated at 44mpg hwy - amazing what people can achieve by driving practices.

Those specs are for the second-generation (2010+) Insight. The first-generation Insight (1999-2006) is one-liter 3-cylinder rated at 53 MPG combined, 61 highway, which to this day remains the highest all-gasoline economy of all time. Plug-ins don't count.