Comments on: Prius vs BMW M3 vs MPG at Top Gear: Who Wins? http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2008/09/11/prius-vs-bmw-m3-vs-mpg-at-top-gear-who-wins/ pure green energy optimism Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:06:00 +0200 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bob Wilson http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2008/09/11/prius-vs-bmw-m3-vs-mpg-at-top-gear-who-wins/comment-page-1/#comment-2716 Bob Wilson Sat, 27 Dec 2008 19:37:09 +0000 http://www.greenoptimistic.com/?p=843#comment-2716 The video "test" of course was total nonsense. A formula 1 driver drove the Prius between maximum acceleration and maximum brake. This forces the engine into maximum power mode where the engine efficiency falls off and maximum braking exceeds the regenerative braking capability. In the meanwhile, Clarkson simply followed without braking or accelerating except to keep at a similar AVERAGE speed. The 19 MPG reported is just under the 20 MPG mileage rating of that BMW. The Top Gear web site claims the Prius and the BMW 318 diesel have the same mileage in the "extra urban" cycle. This makes sense as the current extra urban cycle is the highway mileage test. But Top Gear is comparing a manual transmission BMW 318 versus an automatic Prius, not the automatic transmission BMW 318. In that test, the Prius wipes out the BMW 318 in both the extra urban and the urban tests. But there is one quote in this report that is unsupported,"On the other hand, there is more pollution in making the Prius than a Hummer can do in a lifetime by burning gasoline. I agree with that." Please provide the backup documentation and let's do some 'fact checking.' I have no problem if there are facts supporting this claim. After all, a dirty Prius should be just the thing for Clarkson. Bob Wilson 625k Inc. The video “test” of course was total nonsense. A formula 1 driver drove the Prius between maximum acceleration and maximum brake. This forces the engine into maximum power mode where the engine efficiency falls off and maximum braking exceeds the regenerative braking capability. In the meanwhile, Clarkson simply followed without braking or accelerating except to keep at a similar AVERAGE speed. The 19 MPG reported is just under the 20 MPG mileage rating of that BMW.

The Top Gear web site claims the Prius and the BMW 318 diesel have the same mileage in the “extra urban” cycle. This makes sense as the current extra urban cycle is the highway mileage test. But Top Gear is comparing a manual transmission BMW 318 versus an automatic Prius, not the automatic transmission BMW 318. In that test, the Prius wipes out the BMW 318 in both the extra urban and the urban tests.

But there is one quote in this report that is unsupported,”On the other hand, there is more pollution in making the Prius than a Hummer can do in a lifetime by burning gasoline. I agree with that.” Please provide the backup documentation and let’s do some ‘fact checking.’

I have no problem if there are facts supporting this claim. After all, a dirty Prius should be just the thing for Clarkson.

Bob Wilson
625k Inc.

]]> By: prius optimist http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2008/09/11/prius-vs-bmw-m3-vs-mpg-at-top-gear-who-wins/comment-page-1/#comment-2528 prius optimist Sun, 14 Dec 2008 03:07:15 +0000 http://www.greenoptimistic.com/?p=843#comment-2528 Hummer versus Prius: “Dust to Dust” Report Misleads the Media and Public with Bad Science http://www.pacinst.org/topics/integrity_of_science/case_studies/hummer_versus_prius.html Hummer versus Prius:
“Dust to Dust” Report Misleads the Media and Public with Bad Science

http://www.pacinst.org/topics/integrity_of_science/case_studies/hummer_versus_prius.html

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