Reply #39: Unless they include the gas needed to return the vehicle to its beginning charge ...

[TahitiNut]

... any mpg claims are suspect, imho. In evaluating mileage, I believe the vehicle should be, in effect, returned to its starting state. If that means (effectively) replacing the gasoline in the tank in order to determine the amount used, that's the model I assume for the standard EPA tests. When, however, it's some initial charge in the onboard batteries, no matter how full or intermediate the level of that charge, then the same charge should be restored and that restoration be expressed in the gallons of gasoline needed to do so -- preferably by the on-board gasoline engine.