The MPG Hacks Heat Up

Over at Treehugger.com, I read about this little doozy. Yes, someone has tweaked out a Hummer to get 40 mpg!

OK, not really. "The equivalent of" 40 mpg. That actually seems to mean 22-24 mpg. How exactly 40 is the equivalent of 22, I'm not sure. Perhaps the Law of Fives has something to do with it, or some of that "Fuzzy Math" Bush II was once so fond of mentioning.

The full story at ZDNet tells us the same thing. "Equivalent of 40 mpg", but only lists 22-24 mpg as an actual achievement. My best guess is that it gets the equivalent distance in emissions as a 40 mpg vehicle if you use biodiesel. Or maybe I'm reading that wrong.

Anyway, it's a lot better than 10 mpg. Right? Let's consider.

It requires the complete replacement of the engine and transmission. This isn't a little tweak. This isn't a home conversion kit you buy off the 'net.

There's no mention of the expense involved in this little "adjustment", but I'd wager it runs several thousand dollars. Probably not worth the expense of the fuel savings. But now it will get 650 horsepower, wheeee! (I bet that figures into that magical 22 = 40 thing. An unmodified Hummer gets 325 hp.)

Then there's the additional invested energy in making a replacement for a brand-new engine. How much energy will be wasted in that? Will anyone make use of the old engine?

In my view, this "greening" of Hummers is all about stroking the egos and soothing the consciences of the owners. It's expensive and wasteful, and serves only to keep these mammoth fuel-wasters on the road and make them appear more socially acceptable.

Want to get 27 mpg in a truck for only $5,000? Do what I did.

Buy a used mid-sized or compact pickup.

Want more luxury? Buy something that's more efficient than a Hummer!