Chapter 10.   Coasters:  The Triple-Digit Hybrids

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     Toyota's Prius and Honda's Insight hybrid electric vehicles get real-world fuel mileage in the 45-60 mpg range which is barely comparable to that of simpler and less expensive diesels of similar size, like Volkwagen's Jetta TDI (at 50 mpg) or VW's Lupo 3L (at 78 mpg).  For a hybrid electric vehicle to be worth the additional expense of its electric vehicle components, it must be capable of 1) average annualized fuel economy in excess of 100 mpg, 2) total emissions below the best levels attainable by simpler conventional cars plus 3) a significant, fuel-independent operating mode . . . . (chapter has 16 pages and 6 figures).