One way to deal with rising fuel prices is to use more efficient vehicles.
We own a very large and very heavy vehicle.
It's a three ton monstrosity, a handicap equipped Chrysler Pacifica van.
Ninety percent of all Pacificas sold are actually HYBRIDS which boast up to 40 mpg hwy.
The handicap equipped versions cannot be hybrids however because the dropped floor makes the battery option impossible, and the handicap ramp and other amenities add about 750 pounds to the overall weight.
Thus our non-hybrid was sold to us with an advertised EPA fuel economy rating of 14 city/18 hwy.
However, coming into Kingman, AZ the other night, this was our AVERAGE fuel economy at 74 miles per hour on a level road.
And we averaged about 26 mpg during the entire trip from Los Angeles to Tulsa and back.
We did a professional engine break-in period, we use top grade synthetic oil and premium or mid-premium gasoline, low rolling resistance tires and 45 psi inflation with nitrogen instead of air. Of course, at higher altitudes our fuel economy suffered and it got down to around 22 mpg hwy.
Still, not bad for a six thousand pound vehicle. Nowhere near the efficiency of my daughter's GM Volt but still pretty good.
