Do Prius Owners and Hybrid Owners Realize They're Driving Gas Guzzlers?

Question

My motorcycle gets a mimimum of 65 MPG, which makes even a Prius that gets in the 40's (which is what Popular Mechanics tested their true MPG to be) a gas guzzler.

Why don't environmentalists drive motorcycles if they really cared about Gas Mileage and saving the environment?

Why do they insist on killing the earth? Is it just too inconveinent?

I already take public transportation, but thanks for the suggestion. And I do own a car for transport of larger goods. But, because I own a motorcycle my gas consumption is far below the average individual, and yes, motorcycles hasve strict emissions standards and are required to comply with the same standards as an auto- although their standards might be higher since New York State now allows motorcycles in the HOV lanes because of their advanced fuel economy and emissions.

Answer 1

Not everyone can drive a motorcycle. It just isnt' practical for moms with kids, women who drive to work, etc.

At least Prius & hybrid owners have a cover over their head while driving during inclement weather.'

Answer 2

What's the emissions on your motorcycle? Do you even need to get an emissions inspection on your motorcycle, as opposed to a car? Last I heard, very few motorcycles even had a catalytic converter... Once emission controls are put onto motorcycles, then the MPG will come down.

However, the worst polluting of the hybrids out there is an ULEV (70% cleaner than the average car), with the best being an AT-PZEV (90% cleaner than the average car, emissions warrantied out to 10 years/150,000 miles, and zero evaporative emissions). So, an AT-PZEV hybrid, sitting OFF in a parking lot, is putting out less emissions than a motorcycle or most other cars also sitting OFF in the same parking lot...

It's difficult to accurately compare a motorcycle's MPG to a car's MPG, as there are no standardized tests. At least you can compare one car against another and tell which is more fuel efficient, using:
US: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
Canada: http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/personal/
UK: http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/

Unfortunately, your real world MPG will be different than my real world MPG, which will be different than Consumer Reports' real world MPG, which all are very likely to be lower than those standardized governmental tests (run under ideal situations in a lab with no heat/AC use on a simulated driving cycle that doesn't match most modern motorists' driving patterns).

http://www.bluewaternetwork.org/reports/rep_ca_global_fuelfalsehood2.pdf
http://www.ewg.org/reports/realMPG/part1.php

typically, the smaller vehicle you drive, the more fuel efficient it is. typically a compact will have better fuel economy than a large SUV/truck. another reason that a lightweight motorcycle will have better fuel economy than a car.

Myself, I'd never find myself riding a donorcycle - too unsafe. I'd like to be enclosed in a metal box with crash safety items like seat belts and air bags, thank you very much. I'm certain that there are others out there who feel the same way.

Some others may have the same issue about riding a bicycle (even better for the environment than a motorcycle) as they would for a motorcycle - weather. Hot sun in summer, rain getting you wet and/or covered with mud, cold in winter and difficult to control in snow/ice. then you'd need a changing area when you get to work...

Others have an actual need for a larger vehicle - have to transport a lot of people in a carpool, have items to tow on a regular basis, have large/heavy items to transport for work... That you just cannot do in a small vehicle and particularly not on a motorcycle.

At least there is a guide available (in the US) for driving the greenest vehicle available (rated by emissions then by fuel economy) for whatever type of vehicle that you need: http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicle

Of course, if you were more of an environmentalist yourself, you'd be living close to work/shopping, such that you wouldn't need a motorcycle and could walk or take a bicycle or take public transportation...

Answer 3

Well the fact that a motorcycle can not fit a small family in them makes it kind of difficult to drive a motorcycle. Also not everybody enjoys riding a bike, say when its raining or in some regions of the country snowing. Now lets compare the MPG on a truck to a Prius and ask if they are helping the environment.

Answer 4

I have a Honda all wheel drive that gets an average of about 23 m.p.g. Here in the north where it snows and gets cold, driving a two wheeled open vehicle isn't practical. I've had a couple of motorcycles, but gave them up because I had too many close calls on them.

Personally I would like to see electric cars and nuclear power to provide the electricity. I also like the idea of gasification of coal for use in current engines .

Answer 5

Sorry, I would never drive an SUV with 18 mpg, but I will not ride/drive a motorcycle. They scare the crap out of me. Plus, I have two kids that won't fit in that little compartment in the back.

Answer 6

The unpredictability of weather makes the motorcycle impractical. T-storms, winter, 2 passengers, a trip to lowes, grocery store, walmart to get 'things', other drivers and animals crossing the road all do not mix with the dangerous two wheelers.

A very impracticable vehicle when it comes to the activities of life.

Answer 7

Well....here in a great majority of the US...we have this thing...it's called winter. See...driving motorcycles is dangerous enough as it is....people get killed on them all the time....
Now....lets just think about this for two seconds....think mixing motorcycles and ice/12 inches of snow is really a good idea?

Answer 8

1. motorcycles are too dangerous. Do you expect 80 year old grannies to drive motorcycles?

2. My moped gets 200mpg, so your cycle is a gas guzzler. HA!

3. next stooopid question!

Answer 9

It's called helping the earth without maiming yourself, you should check into it. My best friends little brother was killed on a motorycle in a 10mph accident .. had he been driving a hybrid he would be happily raising his children right now.

Answer 10

Motorcycles aren't practical for many people. And they're scary to many others, me included.