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<--- Shouldn't the AVERAGE be HALFWAY between the red/green lines? |
And... What's with the AVERAGE increase in 2009, when NEITHER of the other values CHANGED from 06 -07 -08!!
My '96 Chevy Tahoe (V8, 4x4) gets 20 mpg on the highway. Not bad. ...and the same as the new ones. And I remember some Japanese models from the '70s getting over 40 mpg.
I couldn’t read it all but does it say that improving the efficiency of the older model gas hogs is easier than making new cars that have 35 MPG?
Makes too much sense...
I am so close to being Crispus Attucks, every day is a chore for me.
TT
+++++++++++++ “By proposing a set limit for economy on all classes of passenger vehicles, Barack Obama has basically said one of two things: In 2016, he wants only economy cars to be sold in the US or he is instructing car companies to squeeze gas from a stone. Since he cannot change the laws of physics, I envision the date those proposed standards take effect will either be repealed by the next administration, or continually be delayed.
This is just another dictate similar to all the rest of Obama’s plans: not based in reality, but wishful thinking “+++++++++++++++
Sorry I should have referenced this first
TT
Higgs has jettisoned himself a gazillion miles ahead of Obama on this topic.
Obama wastes our time with a message the media likes to hear-or a message he wants the media to hear-but Higgs does the research.
My 1988 V8 powered Crown Vic got 30 MPG. I doubt that they have improved on that.
Tin can cars, here we come.
I have a 1982 Oldsmobile Diesel car. It gets in excess of 35 mpg, and it’s a HEAVY car, all steel and such.... why is it that this car which is heaver, bigger, less aerodynamic, and over a quarter-century old gets BETTER MILLAGE than today’s autos?
Partly because Diesels are that much more effective, and the engine it uses is not a “native diesel” engine, but was rather a v8 that they retrofitted to run diesel. Now, I imagine that a “native diesel” engine would be even better, being designed “from the floor up” with Diesel in mind; however, that is completely disregarding the advances in technologies that could be applied to the engine.
(Just to give you an idea; HCCI, which is a rather new Gasoline effectiveness-booster, is pretty much the same technology/physical-device as Diesel fuel-injectors.)
We have been wondering why they aren't producing the mega efficient vehicles like they were able to in the 80's. The only conclusion that we could come up with was the extra weight from extra safety features like airbags and stronger frames.
In 1991 we purchased an Astro van. I am still driving it. It gets 21-22 mpg highway and 18-19 city. I can still tow our trailer and the interior is still in good condition considering its age, and the amount of use that it has been through. After 287,000 miles it has finally developed a problem with a gasket leaking on the trans. This is the first repair to the trans, while the engine has never been touched. The rear end developed a problem about 100,000 miles ago. I so agree with the article, you would think that with the recent advances in technology, we would have come much further in the development of more fuel efficient vehicles.
Higher fuel economy sounds good on paper.
I THINK oBAMA IS PLANNING ON PEOPLE parking THEIR VEHICLES for fuel economy.
More fantasy from Disneyland on the Potomac.
Obama won’t stop until cars are made to run off unicorn farts and wishful thinking....
I think in the not so distant future the years of 2005-2010 will become known as the “golden years” for the combination of selection, power and comfort that is currently available.
I doubt I will ever buy a new car again. My next purchase, whether next year or 2020, will be something with at least 425hp, and I doubt that will be available new come 2020.
Something not mentioned but very important is Ethanol.
Ethanol mixed with gasoline reduces the MPG.
Ethanol has less energy per gallon. I wouldn’t be surprised that adding 10% Ethanol costs 5% on MPG.
Thing is, it's Diesel, it's only 88 hp, 1.6 liter engine, and...
It's only available in Europe and Great Britain.
Incidentally, this is one of the reasons Ford didn't need a bailout, these Ford ECOno Fiesta cars are selling like hotcakes in europe.
But Ford doesn't think they will sell in the U.S., cause of the low horsepower and the diesel engine, so we don't get the option to buy a car that can get 65 mpg.
It's not the technology, it's the economics.
Aye, the solution is to get new friends.
I like to power and size of my car and the mileage is acceptable. It meets any need I have for business to carrying backpack for hiking and snowboard gear with passengers.
Good car. I will miss it in 2014 when all cars will be manufactured to GMO standards. May have to buy a truck thingy or whatever they will be called then.
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<--- Shouldn't the AVERAGE be HALFWAY between the red/green lines? |
For increased mileage I can buy a free breathing air filter, I can install some expensive spark plugs, that would help, I can install a better or tweak the existing intake manifold and gain just a bit. A really slippery engine oil would help too but not a huge amount. Changing the fan blade to a freer running type might add just a bit of mileage as would the right tires. Maybe an engine controller would help if I use it properly. A less back pressure exhaust system? I don’t know how much that help.
I can do all this for a $1000-$1500. But would I do it for a 3 mpg increase or would it take more? I don’t know.
Piston engine air craft use a dual spark system for safety but it burns the fuel more efficiently, would such a system be feasible for mass produced autos? Kind of depends on the cost of redesigning the engines and production.
My point is that there are things that can be done to increase mileage in gasoline engines besides reducing weight but they’re more costly.
For that reason I would think diesel engines would the best option.
Check out Amory Lovins and the Rocky Mountian Institute (rmi.org). They advocate radical engineering changes in materials (advanced plastics and composites) and energy management (such as the braking system on the Prius) to increase gas mileage.
He’s no enviro-whackjob either. He does a lot of contract work for the military. After all, the less dependent the individual soldier is on the supply of fuel, the more effective and efficient he will be at achieving is objective, and the more men you can remove from the supply chain, the more support you can give to the man on the front line.
My old 1972 BMW R75/5 (750 cc, 57 hp.) motorcycle got about 37 mpg, not enough to meet the Usurper's 39 mpg. standard for automobiles. We can all kiss AC and anything else that makes a car comfortable or enjoyable to drive goodbye.
There's an unspoken agreement between environmentalist (with emphasis on 'mental') and the oil companies to restrict the supply of oil, thereby providing a price support for the oil companies. The environmentalists get to feel good about themselves for reducing oil consumption.
They get the bennies, we get the shaft. Voters wake up.