Sorry if this is an exceptionally stupid question but I hope I’m in good company. If a hybrid vehicle gets 35 mpg, and there’s a comparable non-hybrid vehicle that also gets 35 mpg, do they effectively end up putting out the same amount of emissions? Or does it not really matter what the mpg is and there’s more to it? Thanks so much!
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If they have the same mpg, they are burning the same amount of fuel to cover the same distance, regardless of hybrid or full internal combustion. Hybrids are supposed to have a higher mpg because they can use the electric motor to move in specific situations, meaning the vehicle is now covering distance without burning fuel. This is supposed to allow the vehicle to travel farther while burning the same amount of fuel as a full combustion engine. But if the hybrid isn’t increasing the mpg of the vehicle over that of a comparable vehicle with a traditional engine, you aren’t reducing emissions in a meaningful manner.
The actual emissions will depend on the individual vehicles themselves and how they are configured for emissions controls. Different compression ratios, fuel-air mixtures, combustion temps, and even brand of fuel (different brands use different additives) will have effects on emissions.
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