April 15, 2016: Watkins Glen Green Grand Prix

[sheepdog 44]

Top 10 most fuel efficient vehicles at 2016 Green Grand Prix, Watkins Glen NY:
Bold = Ecomodder members

--(Model)----(Mpg equivalent)-(Kwh equiv)- (Fuel)
1 Coda 2012 -----211.52 mpge--15.9 kwh ---Electricity
2 Urba Centurion 179.62 mpge--18.72kwh --(.487 gal. Diesel @ 204.77 mpg)
3 Model S--------165.67 mpge --20.3 kwh ---Electricity
4 Prius 2005------158.4 mpge ---21.23kwh --(15.84kw + .16 gal. gas) Hybrid
5 Civic VX 1993 -98.7 mpge ---[34.03kwh] (1.01 gal. gas) Hybrid
6 Insight 2000---87.6 mpge ---[38.42kwh]- (1.14gal. gas) Hybrid
7 Prius 2016 ------ 82 mpge-----[40.77kwh]--(1.21gal. gas) Hybrid
8 Jetta 2000 ------81.07 mpge -[41.48kwh]- (1.07 gal. Diesel @ 92.42 mpg)
9 Insight 2000 -- 78.9 mpge-- [42.46kwh]- (1.26gal. gas) Hybrid
10 Prius 2016 ----- 76.8 mpge---[43.77kwh]--(1.30gal. gas) Hybrid

--Driver---------Navigator
1 Luke Deptula, Peter Deptula, 12 Coda
2 Jerry Bartlett, Pete Cutler, Urba Centurion
3 Paul Evans, Mike Bacheldor, Tesla S
4 Will Smith, 05 Prius EXB Mod E
5 Michael Loveland, Lara Loveland, 93 Civic
6 Matt Hooler, Emma Townsend, 00 Insight
7 Sean Cina, 16 Prius
8 Alec Bray, Doug Bray, 00 VW Jetta
9 Bruce Pick, Steve Pick, 00 Insight
10 Brian Kiser, 16 Prius

[Xist]

Two out of three years the Centurion was more efficient than an electric car? I had not heard about this one. This was not the review I was expecting, but still an interesting read: 2012 Coda EV Sedan Track Test

[sheepdog 44]

Originally Posted by Xist

Two out of three years the Centurion was more efficient than an electric car? I had not heard about this one. This was not the review I was expecting, but still an interesting read: 2012 Coda EV Sedan Track Test

Honestly the Coda's numbers are a little high without there being much to suggest an explanation. It's not very aerodynamic and has substandard epa ratings for an electric car. Granted it's a lot lighter than the Tesla. Maybe the EPA under-reported mpge (77city / 68Highway, 73 combined), it seems 25% lower than a typical EV?

To be fair the Coda used 18kwh last year for ~ 186mpge, and the EV's drive a shorter distance because they don't have to do the hill climb from the gas station. The strenuous hill climb and shorter distance could be the issue, as the results are assumed for 99.8 miles. At no point was distance traveled recorded for ANY car (Gas or Electric ), only KWH consumption from the battery, not the factory MPGE reading. With an assumed distance it creates a chance for error.

I tried my best to interpret the available data fairly for all cars, but the GGP is not like the Xprize. They had stricter standards which included energy loss from charging among other things.

The percent over epa ratings of the top 10 models:
Coda percent over epa 225-274% Stock (conservative # adjusted 20% down)
Civic percent over epa 193-224% Boat Tail
Jetta percent over epa 167-195% Air dam, side skirts
Tesla percent over epa 165-183% Stock
Prius percent over epa 141-154% Stock
Insight percent over epa 125-143% Stock

[Gasoline Fumes]

Photographer Steve Thompson has his photos from the GGP online now. And he said he'll try to set it up so the participants get a discount on pics.
PhotoReflect - Stephen Thompson Photography