Comments on: Larrick and Soll's "Miles Per Gallon Illusion" http://www.masterresource.org/2009/02/larrick-and-solls-miles-per-gallon-illusion/ A free-market energy blog Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:38:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tom Tanton http://www.masterresource.org/2009/02/larrick-and-solls-miles-per-gallon-illusion/comment-page-1/#comment-453 Tom Tanton Sun, 15 Feb 2009 23:45:02 +0000 http://masterresource.org/?p=864#comment-453 it really doesn't matter WHAT metric is used by the faux-cognicenti. The numbers were not/are not meant to actually represent the mileage obtained (hence the "your mileage may vary" caveats) but ONLY to represent relative mileage (i.e. a car with rating of 20 goes further than one with rating of 19--but will never ever get exactly 20 except instantaneously.) Explaing that to an innumerate population resulted in the current overly simplified and eminently inaccruate syste. It's not much better than color coding terrorist threat levels. it really doesn’t matter WHAT metric is used by the faux-cognicenti. The numbers were not/are not meant to actually represent the mileage obtained (hence the “your mileage may vary” caveats) but ONLY to represent relative mileage (i.e. a car with rating of 20 goes further than one with rating of 19–but will never ever get exactly 20 except instantaneously.) Explaing that to an innumerate population resulted in the current overly simplified and eminently inaccruate syste. It’s not much better than color coding terrorist threat levels.

]]> By: Ed Reid http://www.masterresource.org/2009/02/larrick-and-solls-miles-per-gallon-illusion/comment-page-1/#comment-454 Ed Reid Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:58:42 +0000 http://masterresource.org/?p=864#comment-454 ...but not quite as bad as furlongs per fortnight. :-) …but not quite as bad as furlongs per fortnight. :-)

]]> By: Francis MASSEN http://www.masterresource.org/2009/02/larrick-and-solls-miles-per-gallon-illusion/comment-page-1/#comment-455 Francis MASSEN Sun, 15 Feb 2009 13:00:28 +0000 http://masterresource.org/?p=864#comment-455 To us Europeans being used to l/100km (litres per 100 km) since eons this discussion seems to be of another age :-) To us Europeans being used to l/100km (litres per 100 km) since eons this discussion seems to be of another age :-)

]]> By: Ed Reid http://www.masterresource.org/2009/02/larrick-and-solls-miles-per-gallon-illusion/comment-page-1/#comment-457 Ed Reid Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:19:34 +0000 http://masterresource.org/?p=864#comment-457 Regrettably, even "gpm" becomes confusing when plug hybrid vehicles enter the market, since not all of the purchased energy consumed by the vehicle is gasoline, ethanol-contaminated gasoline [ :-) ] or diesel. Also, in mock deference to the AGW alarmists, not all of the CO2 emissions resulting from the vehicle's operation are accounted for in the measure. Absent some major technological breakthrough, achieving 100 mpg (or 0.01 gpm) would require plug hybrid technology; and, also, ignoring the energy delivered to the battery from the electric power source, the primary energy efficiency of the power source and the emissions resulting from the generation of the electric power. Arguably, a more appropriate measure of the vehicle's performance would be gallons (gasoline or diesel) equivalent per (vehicle) mile, or "gepm" . From a global energy perspective, the more appropriate measure might be gallons equivalent of primary energy per mile, or "gepem". From a climate change perspective, however, perhaps the more appropriate measure might be tons of carbon equivalent per mile, or "tcepm". Certainly, if it makes sense to change to a more useful and meaningful measure to replace a measure which has been in common use for decades, it makes sense to change to a new measure which could remain in common use for decades. :-) Regrettably, even “gpm” becomes confusing when plug hybrid vehicles enter the market, since not all of the purchased energy consumed by the vehicle is gasoline, ethanol-contaminated gasoline [ :-) ] or diesel. Also, in mock deference to the AGW alarmists, not all of the CO2 emissions resulting from the vehicle’s operation are accounted for in the measure.

Absent some major technological breakthrough, achieving 100 mpg (or 0.01 gpm) would require plug hybrid technology; and, also, ignoring the energy delivered to the battery from the electric power source, the primary energy efficiency of the power source and the emissions resulting from the generation of the electric power.

Arguably, a more appropriate measure of the vehicle’s performance would be gallons (gasoline or diesel) equivalent per (vehicle) mile, or “gepm” . From a global energy perspective, the more appropriate measure might be gallons equivalent of primary energy per mile, or “gepem”. From a climate change perspective, however, perhaps the more appropriate measure might be tons of carbon equivalent per mile, or “tcepm”.

Certainly, if it makes sense to change to a more useful and meaningful measure to replace a measure which has been in common use for decades, it makes sense to change to a new measure which could remain in common use for decades. :-)

]]> By: Fred http://www.masterresource.org/2009/02/larrick-and-solls-miles-per-gallon-illusion/comment-page-1/#comment-456 Fred Sat, 14 Feb 2009 02:57:24 +0000 http://masterresource.org/?p=864#comment-456 Cost per gallon vs. cost per mile is also clickable. While we buy gas by the gallon we use it by the mile. Cost per mile is a better metric than cost per gallon. For me, the mileage I get using premium gas without ethanol is enough better than ethanol contaminated regular that it is cheaper to use premium. Cost per gallon vs. cost per mile is also clickable.

While we buy gas by the gallon we use it by the mile. Cost per mile is a better metric than cost per gallon. For me, the mileage I get using premium gas without ethanol is enough better than ethanol contaminated regular that it is cheaper to use premium.

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