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French highways are limited to 130 km/h aka 80 mph for non-metric yee. So with a bit of slack, a nice weather and a good knowledge of the location of various radars, 145 km/h - 90 mph - is kinda sorta ok but not really but hey, everybody's doing it so...

For reference, the freaking big multi-ton Panzerkampfwagen I used to drive when I was in France gave me a neat 34 to 36 mpg on highways at those speeds. Same kind of engine - V6 diesel HDI - and better aerodynamics than the Espace.

Urban mileage was ugly though : 16 mpg or even worse (I don't dare remember, frankly). That where's an hybrid would help. But then, we Parisian scoundrels have this cool thing called public transportations like Le Metro and Le Tram, running on nuclear power. We also have feet. Very good for the waistline. Save for the rare run to the big box store or a drive to friends and family exiled in the suburbs, the Panzerkampfwagen always slept at the garage when I was in the city. Infinite mpg! Can't do better.

by Francois in Paris on Sun May 18th, 2008 at 02:31:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I was reading something recently about a planned all electric vehicle, and how it would be ideal for those living in dense urban areas. My reaction was ?  People I know here who own cars primarily use them for longer trips (weekends, vacations). On the other hand the ideal place for a hybrid or an all electric car is probably densely packed suburbs with commuter rail - drive to the station, shopping, ferrying kids around, etc. i.e. the sort of driving where hybrids get better performance than diesels.
by MarekNYC on Sun May 18th, 2008 at 02:49:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]
The solution is serial hybrid aka EREV (electrical range extended vehicle). An electric car with an ICE-alternator group to recharge the battery when you drive for longer than the battery capacity. Short range commute is entirely on battery with a recharge at night and long trips are just like with your current car: drive and stop at the gas station if needed.

Example : the Chevy Volt which should be on the market late 2010 - early 2011. ~40 miles of full electric entirely on battery - with, very important, full speed/acceleration performances not a degraded mode like on classical hybrids with an electric-only mode - then very good mileage in gasoline mode beyond 40 miles of driving in a row.

by Francois in Paris on Sun May 18th, 2008 at 06:49:11 PM EST
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