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George Leopold's avatar

Your Prius description is inaccurate. The rear deck of the standard Prius (mine is a 2019) seats two adults conformably. With rear seats down, I can haul much stuff in the rear. I once loaded a standard size metal file cabinet in the rear -- about the length of a coffin but higher. Believe me, you can haul a helluva more in a Prius than an SUV. We know because we recently moved back to the Midwest from NoVa -- and we utilized every cubic inch.

Current mileage on my hybrid (not a plug-in hybrid) is 60.8 miles/gallon. Nine gallon tank.

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Joseph C Simmons's avatar

I agree with you but keep in mind there are (or were) many different Prius body styles, a few of which actually were pretty cramped in the back.

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Jay Janney's avatar

I really think hybrids are the interim solution. That and higher gasoline taxes at the pump. people drive big hulking pick ups and SUVs because gas is cheap. Simply raising the tax would encourage migration to more fuel, efficient vehicles.

But because that would be unpopular it won’t happen.

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Gregg Easterbrook's avatar

the unpopular reform that would have the most effect (at lowest cost) is horsepower reduction. I will roll the drums for this idea soon

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Joseph C Simmons's avatar

Hahaha...you are right, but man you might as well be talking about the government "takin' our guns".

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Brian Puente's avatar

Yes, that would sting especially for those like me who love the audible note of a throaty growling V8 ! A symphony orchestra to the ears (of course such a description is contingent on the ears of the beholder)..

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Gregg Easterbrook's avatar

Several new models make the VROOM noise through their sounds systems. Also make a gear shift noise for a CVT

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Brian Puente's avatar

Hmmm, good to know. I'll utilize the gear shift + imagination to mimic the real action/reaction dynamic. This will suffice !

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Stephen of Stephen's avatar

Hey Gregg, you know a Mercedes in the EU can get 15 Km/L of fuel? Thats, something like 35MpG. Combined.

Don't know all the cars, but ai assume there are ones that do better than that. It's no 48 ridiculousness, but it's a shit-load better than the US. No special tech needed.

Best, your EU pal

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Ben Rosenfeld's avatar

On the bright side - you often complain the NYT only has negative news on the front page. So you should consider amending to “negative news or positive fictions” 🤣

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Gregg Easterbrook's avatar

NYT did once run a page one article saying the production of fresh donuts was increasing!

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Oscar Gordon's avatar

So the EPA can just decree that the automakers must stretch the laws of physics to achieve a politically motivated, but unrealistic, goal or else pay massive fines. So why can’t the OMB issue a regulation that Congress must balance the budget by 2031 or pay massive personal fines.

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Paxton Guy's avatar

And you wonder why VW and Toyota are cheating on things like emissions and collision tests...

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Brian Puente's avatar

"Haul of a helluva more in a Prius than an SUV?"... Hmm, let's see: 2019 Prius has 27.4 cubic feet of cargo space A 2018 Pathfinder has 47.4 cubic feet cargo space just behind the second row of seats. After folding second row, the cargo space increases to 79.5 cubic feet.

In conclusion, 27.4 cubic ft. is < 47.4 cubic feet and MUCH LESS than 79.5 cubic feet.

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Paxton Guy's avatar

No sooner do I read this, I get a NY Times email that reads "Electric car prices are now within striking distance of those for gasoline cars"

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