The belts constantly deteriorate and throw off bits of rubber that clog the oil pick-up in the pan. It’s like tires losing tread due to wear. The YouTube video I watched showed a clogged oil-pickup which starves the critical bearings of oil
The 50,000 mile belt change interval you quoted is what the guy in the video said, too. Who the heck wants a very expensive timing belt change-out every 50k miles?
All because the FedGov dictated “Your fleet goal is 50 mpg” without any consideration of the real world and peoples’ pocketbooks.
There is better tech out there already. Lowering Cd, using thermoplastic exterior body panels, adding overdrive on transmission, low rolling resistant tires, lowering final drive ratio all help improve mileage.....