smart cdi clinches MPG Marathon 80.61 MPG

[Dunerunner]

smart cdi clinches MPG Marathon with 80.61 mpg, driver shows how [w/VIDEO] — Autoblog Green
by Domenick Yoney
The 2009 edition of the ALD World MPG Marathon was held a couple weeks ago and this year's winner gained a result unseen in the contest's seven-year history: 80.61 mpg U.S. (96.81 mpg UK). Mick Linford was the man behind the wheel for the 360-mile contest and wrung the result from a smart cdi. Officially rated at 71.28 mpg U.S. ( 85.6 mpg UK) combined, the mileage master managed to make a 13 percent increase with the machine. The two-seat oil burner, which just became available in the UK this year, makes 45 brake horsepower from its three-cylinder common-rail engine but, perhaps more importantly, emits a mere 88 grams of CO₂ per kilometer. Unfortunately, like so many other fuel-frugal cars, the smart cdi is unavailable in the U.S.

YouTube - smart eco driving

YouTube - smart eco driving

[SuperGeek]

Whoa there. Turning off if you're idling for more than 10 seconds? With AC off, consumption on the 451 gas model is only 0.2GPH (50 cents per hour of idling). With a conservative 2 minutes per light, that's 30 switchoffs per hour of idling or 50 cents saved - 30 start cycles to save 50 cents in gas? How much wear is that starter rated for, again? Estimate 10 years on normal use (4x/day x 3650 = 15000 start cycles) and you'd save $250 in gas before you apply 10 years of wear on the starter - not including the added load on the alternator and battery to recharge. My basic math says the 1.6 cents you'd save at each stoplight is really not worth it.

With AC on, fuel consumption goes up about 30%. Even then, a new starter, downtime, plus battery/alternator wear will exceed $325.

And don't get me started on the whole appearance-of-slowness and irritation of people behind you if you're accelerating with "just enough pedal to avoid stalling." A three second burst - even at full throttle - is also not going to ding your consumption very much when your whole day is considered.

Make sure you wash your car weekly, now, because the dirt can affect the aerodynamics.


But to the original story - 71MPG US officially rated? Awesome. Bring that puppy to the USA. Make it work with US emissions requirements - ah, but then it'll come down to 50MPG probably and cost $3000 more. Ironic.