How To Get Better MPG in Cold Winter Driving - HybridCars.com

How To Get Better MPG in Cold Winter Driving

As the temperatures drop in cold regions of the country, so will average miles per gallon. It’s a fact of physics, what cold does. According to the EPA a conventional internal combustion powered car that gets 30 mpg in 77 degree (F) weather will see it drop 12 percent to about 26 mpg in 20 degree weather. For the first 3-4 miles before it warms up it can get 22 percent less efficiency, or as low as 23 mpg. For battery dependent hybrids, the EPA says a 31-34 percent decrease is not uncommon. That would mean a Camry Hybrid that might ordinarily get 41 mpg could drop to as low 26-29 mpg in 20-degree weather. And that’s assuming you are not slipping and sliding on snow, which would waste more energy. As always your results will vary, there are a few things you can do to at least compensate, but before we get to that let’s talk a little more about mechanical realities. Like hum...

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