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Old 12-21-2010, 04:34 PM   #41 (permalink)
jason1973tl
Prototype builder
 
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 67

Big Vic - '03 Ford Crown VIctoria LX
90 day: 21.92 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf View Post
At what cost, though? Start with the fact that electricity is about the most inefficient way to create heat, then figure out how much of that expensive heat is leaking out of the poorly-insulated* cabin, and then estimate what that does to your range & overall driving efficiency.

*Even if you added insulation, which most IC-engine cars don't 'cause heat's free, you still have those large glass areas.
You are forgetting about the most efficient way to heat or cool. They electric heat pump. The Prius uses electric heat and I believe so do other current parallel hybrids. I talk to a lot of EV owners who use either ceramic heating elements or inline water heaters for the cars existing heater core, and in both cases range their range is not significantly decreased.

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