Ford C-Max Plug-in hybrid to have 20 mile range

That's only CARBON type.

The SMOG type is unrelated to efficiency. That's where the emission-rating of PZEV really matters.

Diesel can deliver that, but it more difficult and more expensive than with gas.

Well EPA calls it Greenhouse Gases and if you read it, they note other components besides the CO2 but we can say for emissions purposes (your word) EPA rates the modern car Diesels about equal with gas in regard to emissions.

That would be called greenwashing. The ratings are provided for a reason...

I strongly suggest you refer to CARB before dismissing an entire category of emissions.

SMOG consists of pollutants very different from carbon measuresments from EPA.

Well EPA calls it "tailpipe emissions" and you referenced "emissions". Those are the current official emissions ratings which apply equally to gas and Diesel cars.

.
LEV (Low Emission Vehicle) The least stringent emission standard for all new cars sold in California beyond 2004.

ULEV (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) 50% cleaner than the average new 2003 model year vehicle; rated for 100,000 miles.

SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) 90% cleaner than the average new 2003 model year vehicle; rated for 120,000 miles.

PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicle) Meets SULEV tailpipe emission standards, has a 15-year / 150,000 mile warranty, and has zero evaporative emissions.

AT-PZEV (Advanced Technology - PZEV) Meets SULEV tailpipe emission standards, has a 15-year / 150,000 mile warranty, has zero evaporative emissions and includes advanced technology components.

ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) Zero tailpipe emissions, 98% cleaner than the average new 2003 model year vehicle.

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NOx = nitrous oxides (combines with hydrocarbons in sunlight to form smog)

NMOG = non-methane organic gases (combines with NOx in sunlight to form smog)

CO = carbon monoxide (colorless, odorless, poisonous gas)

PM = particulate matter (tiny particles of solid matter that lodge in the lungs)

HCHO = formaldehyde (lung irritant and carcinogen)

What does diesel have to do with the C-Max or Energi?

Nothing.

Sorry for the tangent I took with PS for a while.

You mean like the 2011 Peugeot 3008 hybrid that gets very similar fuel economy to the Prius, is bigger, has 200 bhp and does 0-62 mph (100km/h) in 8.5 seconds? How quick is the Prius again?

http://www.peugeot.co.uk/media/peugeot-3008-hybrid4-prices-and-specifications-brochure.pdf

Sigh, so that C-Max is real ugly, right? Who's with me here!

Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 - smal Diesel SUV has 0-62 mph time 8.5 s

The Prius is more than a hybrid tech(electric-motor-battery+regen brake system) integrated onto a Corolla. Toyota scraped the Corolla body entirely so there's a significant difference in aerodynamics and curb weight (even if the hybrid components were removed). The Prius also has some unique thermal systems to boost energy efficiencies like the CHS(2nd gen) and EHR(3rd gen). If fuelly.com stats are any indication of real world results then a 2010 Toyota Corolla gets and average of 30.5 mpg and a 2010 Toyota Prius gets an average of 47.6 mpg - this is an average of a 56% improvement in fuel efficiency. Note that the FE range for a 2010 Corolla is 19-41 mpg and FE range for a 2010 Prius is 38-61 mpg ( that is a range of 100% to 48.7% improvement) . ISTM that a Prius is much more than the sum of its parts.

Diesel normally cost atleast 10 cents more per gallon than regular gasoline.

In addition, the emissions of a Prius are better than a Jetta TDI Sportswagon.


===================================
2010 Toyota Prius
Details | Green Vehicle Guide | US EPA
===================================
NOx =00.055 gram/mile
CO =02.100 gram/mile
NMOG =00.055 gram/mile
PM =00.010 gram/mile
Smog =02.81 pounds/year
Greenhouse gases = 2.97 tons/year

===================================
2010 VW Jetta SportsWagen TDI
Details | Green Vehicle Guide | US EPA
===================================
NOx =00.070 gram/mile
CO =04.200 gram/mile
NMOG =00.090 gram/mile
PM =00.010 gram/mile
Smog =05.29 pounds/year
Greenhouse gases = 4.96 tons/year

here's example of a conventional gasoline car thats really popular in the Washington DC Metro area...
===================================
2010 BMW 328i Manual/Automatic
Details | Green Vehicle Guide | US EPA
===================================
NOx =00.070 gram/mile
CO =04.200 gram/mile
NMOG =00.090 gram/mile
PM =00.010 gram/mile
Smog =05.29 pounds/year
Greenhouse gases = 6.71 tons/year

Last April - when I was going eastbound on I-70 in Illinois-Ohio my Garmin GPS said I was clocking 80 mph but my 2010 Toyota Prius speedometer was reading 81 mph. Does the speedometer's accuracy vary with the speed?

Probably have to let this pan out a bit more with final costs and official EPA, but if this thing really has combined 188 HP to the Prius V's paltry 134 and yet offers similar mileage at similar cost, I'd find this a highly compelling achievement.

Thanks. Sorry that, even I, jacked my own thread.


Back to the C-Max, I find the optional passkey powered liftgate to be a nifty feature. We had a powered liftgate on a Nissan Quest and I eventually came to love that feature. Especially while shutting it; no more dirty hands from pushing it closed. The other benefit is supposed to be when you have your hands full but then how do you get to your remote in your pocket/purse? That's where the "niftyness" of the the passkey/sensor shines through.

EPA's Green Vehicle Guide only lists the emission standards. The actual certified emissions of each vehicle is listed at Annual Certification Test Results & Data | Cars and Light Trucks | US EPA or for a more easy-to-read format, at the CARB site at On-Road New Vehicle & Engine Certification Program.

Both larger engine-displacement and larger battery-capacity make that realistic. There's always some type of tradeoff. Cost is usually the biggest.

Can't find the size of its Lithium battery!

The other thing that we won't know, not for a while at least, is the reliability of the Ford compared to the Toyota. Surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet. Not knocking the Ford by the way, just that for a long time now Toyota has beaten the US Big Three in quality/reliability. Ford has definitely been improving; it will be interesting to see just how far they have come.