Hybrid owners have been making a fuss about real-world fuel economy ever since the 2000 Honda Insight debuted and promised 72 mpg on the highway. But the EPA data is only part of the problem. Evidently, nobody told hybrid drivers that they had to follow the same common-sense laws that govern fuel mileage with regular gasoline vehicles. Hybrid owners need to understand that they can’t drive their vehicles as if they don’t have a gasoline engine.

In an effort to address disappointment with hybrid fuel economy, Ford and Lexus have decided to hit the road and teach owners how to maximize mpg. Ford’s “Hybrid Patrol” travelled to eleven American cities to talk to Escape Hybrid owners about ways they can improve fuel economy. Lexus dealerships have started distributing a pamphlet about the RX 400h, explaining that quick acceleration, heavy braking, and driving at speeds above 60 mph results in mileage estimates that are lower than the EPA estimates.

Of course, full hybrids, those that can run solely on battery power, like the Ford Escape Hybrid, benefit from slightly different types of driving than regular gasoline vehicles. For example, an Escape Hybrid is more effective in the city than on the highway, in direct contrast to straight gas burners. That’s because the engine stops running when stopped or when travelling at low speeds, using the juice in the battery pack to operate the lights, wipers, stereo, and air conditioning. Also, we’ve been successful at cruising Los Angeles traffic between 25 and 30 mph in the Escape Hybrid, without the motor running. At least until the slightest hill needed to be climbed, or impatient motorists began honking horns to get us moving away from a traffic light.

Finally, remember that no matter how hard you drive a hybrid, it will get better fuel economy than the equivalently-powered gasoline version. In a Toyota Prius, you could staple the accelerator to the floor away from every light and stop sign, drive 80 mph on the expressway, and jump from lane to lane during the commute and still get better gas mileage than a gingerly-driven Toyota Matrix of similar size and power. So even if you’re not getting what the EPA promised, take heart. You’re probably doing better than the guy in the next lane, especially if your tire pressure is correct, your powertrain has been properly maintained, and you’re storing the golf clubs, baseball cleats, and soccer balls in the garage rather than your trunk.

'Til next time...Keep Rollin'

Photos by Ron Perry and Erik Hanson