AFS Trinity Pulls Extreme Hybrids From LA Auto Show

AFS Trinity has pulled its modified Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid from the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show as the result of a dispute between the show organizers and the company over its claims that the car achieves a fuel economy of 150 miles per gallon. According to the company, the car, if driven 40 miles per day for six days, and 80 miles per day for one day, will use about two gallons of gas. The company uses this pattern to assert that the vehicle achieves more than 150 mpg.

The show organizers wanted AFS Trinity to stop claiming that the car has an estimated MPG of 150 because it would upset the manufacturer-sponsors of the show. AFS Trinity said that it would emphasize that the mileage rating is an estimate, to which the show management said that no promotional materials of any sort that included the 150-mpg figure would be acceptable, and that the point was not open for negotiation.

he show's organizers said that manufacturers can only display EPA mileage estimates on their vehicles, and since the AFS Trinity hybrids have not been tested by the EPA, they may not make a mileage claim. AFS Trinity argues that no other car maker needs to have EPA ratings on concept vehicles, and that requiring such documentation is unfair in light of the vehicles' status.

The EPA has not yet determined a suitable testing regimen to determine the mileage rating for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, so it would be impossible for the EPA to issue a mileage estimate for the car at this time. Rather than continue the argument, AFS Trinity has opted to pull the vehicle, and its other extreme hybrids from the show, and will exhibit the cars elsewhere in downtown Los Angeles during the event.