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Canadian versus US EPA Numbers

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by nedder78, Jul 25, 2011.

  1. nedder78

    nedder78 New Member

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    Looking at the mileage ratings of the Prius 2011 in Canada versus the USA, the Canadian Prius is specified at city mileage of 3.7l/100km or 63.6 mpg (76.4 mpg Imperial) while in the US the Prius has a city rating of 51 mpg.

    These come right from Toyota's websites in Canada and the US.

    As a side note, my Canadian Prius is getting about 53.5mpg US on its first tank of gas (about 200 miles so far).

    Any ideas why - different testing methods? Mechanical differences?
     
    #1 nedder78, Jul 25, 2011
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Any chance Canadians use Imperial gallons rather than US Gallons? that makes a 1.2 to 1 difference.
     
    #2 JimboPalmer, Jul 25, 2011
  3. Carzone

    Carzone New Member

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    Canadians are using the same method as EU test (European test). The test cycles are too simple to get the real numbers.

    By the way, EU test is just a fake test which is good for diesels. All the diesel cars get good numbers in EU test, but bad numbers in EPA test. Actually, EU planned to update the test like EPA test long time ago, but all the european companies againsted it very hard.

    " In the European Union, passenger vehicles are commonly tested using two drive cycles, and corresponding fuel economies are reported as 'urban' and 'extra-urban', in liters per 100 km and (in the UK) in miles per imperial gallon.

    The urban economy is measured using the test cycle known as ECE-15, introduced by the EEC Directive 90/C81/01 in 1999. It simulates a 4,052 m (2.518 mile) urban trip at an average speed of 18.7 km/h (11.6 mph) and at a maximum speed of 50 km/h (31 mph). The extra-urban cycle or EUDC lasts 400 seconds (6 minutes 40 seconds) at an average speed 62.6 km/h (39 mph) and a top speed of 120 km/h (74.6 mph).[24] EU fuel consumption numbers tend to be considerably lower than corresponding US EPA test results for the same vehicle. For example, the 2011 Honda CR-Z with a six-speed manual transmission is rated 6.1/4.4 l/100 km in Europe and 7.6/6.4 l/100 km in the United States"

    Quote from Wiki, [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_economy_in_automobiles]Fuel economy in automobiles - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
     
    #3 Carzone, Jul 25, 2011
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  4. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    From what I have read, the Canadian ratings are about the same as the old (pre-2008) US ratings.

    The US rating were tightened up because most people couldn't get the claimed MPG.

    The US ratings can be matched in everyday driving by someone who cares just a little bit. You have to be much more efficient a driver to match the Canadian ratings. Both systems are useful if you know the assumptions that were made.
     
    #4 xs650, Jul 25, 2011
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    If I'm really careful, with a reset trip meter, I can get it down to 3.9 liter/100 km, around town, displayed. Which likely calculates 4.2, which translates to 60 mpg (US gallons). To achieve 63.6 mpg (US) would be a real stretch. 51 mpg (US) seems realistic, considering a mix with some short trips, some AC use. 51 translates to 4.6 liters /100 km. Which would mean the in-dash showing 4.3. Yeah, that's more realistic.

    BTW, for conversion, liters/100 km to US gallon: divide by 235.2 by either value.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Jul 25, 2011
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Different testing methods. Under the old EPA system

    the 2004 Prius achieved 60/51 or 3.9/4.6 while the Prius in Canada claimed 4.0/4.2 city/hwy.

    The US chnaged their testing to better reflect real-world driving (for example, running the A/C and testing higher highway speeds). The result is that the old Prius dropped from 60/51 to 48/45 (4.9/5.2).

    Meanwhile, the continental Europe numbers had 4.5L/100km combined while UK numbers were 4.3L/100km combined.

    The new sticker is definitely more "realistic" in the sense that most people will get that number. But drive carefully and the numbers will significantly improve.

    The Prius is highly sensitive to all variables (temperature, tyre pressure, throttle application, weight, wind etc). Think of it as cable internet. It's possible to get high numbers from time to time (we all have that one tank that's much higher than our normal numbers, whatever the normal mpg is for the driver) but most of the time, it hovers at a lower figure.
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Jul 25, 2011
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