Yes, seriously. When the original Insight was being sold, the EPA was using tests to determine fuel economy that didn’t reflect real world use. The EPA has since changed the way it tests fuel economy so it comes closer to what you can expect in real world use.
In addition, the original Insight only used the electric motor for extra power, and today’s hybrids don’t work the same way.
To demonstrate how different the original Insight differs from today’s hybrids, consider the fact that the original Insight got better highway fuel economy than in city driving. None of today’s hybrids work the same way.
Apples and oranges, my friend.
If you want to compare apples to apples, compare a 1998 Honda Civic DX with a manual transmission to a 1998 Honda Civic HX (which came with a CVT transmission). Neither car is a hybrid, and the main difference was the CVT transmission.
Edit: I should admit the Civic HX also had a special engine that was designed to use a lean air/fuel mixture. However, the CVT was responsible for most of the difference in fuel economy.
I theory a CVT should be able to get the best mileage.
A wide stepless range of ratios and no torque converter slip ever.
However, a shift strategy that gives MPG the highest priority may not feel good to the average driver.
Many CVT’s artificially change the ratio in steps so the driver doesn’t perceive the transmission to be ‘slipping’.
CVTs are great for lawn mowers but, in my opnion, more of a pain than worth the bother for automotive. Remember, the gear ratios are infinite contained within an upper an d lower bound. Sounds wonderful but not the kill all. I think direct drive electric motors are the best, simplest, most effecient and farnkly, simpler way to go. This has been the trains and heavy marine have gone for years…get rid of the gears!!! Think of chaging directions with motion (e.g. a live rear axle 90 degrees from the crankshaft); this is the one of the most expensive (efficiency) operations there is. However, a power supply wire doesn’t care at all. I don’t know why servo drives have’nt hit main stream yet, but they should. Ford sold an electric Ranger for 3 years or so back around the late 90s?? Anyhow, it was direct servo driven…Siemens…the exact same servo drives I use in industrial controls engineering. Regenerative power, doesn’t care if its 40 below, no idle shafts just going along for the ride, Supply your power from whatever you chose to generate it with…soooo much more efficient and flexible than the fixed design powertrains such as the traditional engines and transmissions we use today.