Posted on 12/02/2007 5:45:43 AM PST by libstripper
WASHINGTON (Dec. 1) - An agreement among congressional Democrats - including those from auto industry states - to support a 40 percent increase in vehicle fuel efficiency is likely to be the tonic needed to push energy legislation through Congress before Christmas.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., a longtime protector of the auto industry, settled their differences in an agreement late Friday on the fuel economy, or CAFE, issue, clearing the way for a House vote on a broader energy bill, probably on Wednesday.
Automakers would be required to meet an industrywide average of 35 miles per gallon for cars and light trucks, including SUVs, by 2020, the first increase by Congress in car fuel efficiency in 32 years.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada called the compromise "good news" and said he hoped to take up the legislation quickly after the House acts.
Dingell said the tougher standards are "both aggressive and attainable" and include provisions that give manufacturers the needed flexibility to bring SUVs and small trucks under compliance and to avoid job losses.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.aol.com ...
Question for the ‘Rats: If this is such a great idea, why did Bubba refuse to do it...?
Back in the 50’s a Rambler (American Motors) dealer, after having to endure comments on how dangerous his small cars were in a collision, did a demo at the local rodeo where Cadillacs were pitted against Semis. Guess who won.
There is always a bigger egg.
That's sort of what this does. Repeals the first law of thermodynamics
Hey people - give the dhims a break! They have the best of intentions, don’t you know?
They’re going to conserve us right back to the Stone Age while outlawing the exploration and production of new sources of energy.
A forty percent increase in CAFE standards by 2020 will NOT yield a forty percent increase in mileage until 2032 at the earliest. Thats because most cars remain on the roads for 12 years (I think light trucks and SUV’s remain on the road for 13 or 14 years).
Meanwhile the vehicle miles driven goes up at 2.7% per year. Thats because our population grows at 1% per year and because most new homes are built in the suburbs requiring a longer commute to work. By 2032 we will be driving about 90% more miles.
If we will be driving 90% more miles by 2032 but the CAFE standards are 40% better then we will still consume more far more fuel in 2032 than we consume today. Unfortunately, there is nothing in the bill that allows the US to produce more domestic crude oil, so...this energy bill is a red herring. Its should be vetoed by the president. We need an energy bill that allows for more domestic oil production and even some encouragement for Coal-to-Liquids (CTL) plants.
I bought an old 1991 Buick LaSabre last spring which was only giving 10-17 mpg on lowest octain gasoline (85 where I live). But, she was cheap and she was pretty and in otherwise excellent condition. So, I took her home and put about $500.00 worth of ordinary maintanance into her which included all new clean new filters, oil change (using synthetic blend), brakes and a tune-up which I did myself.
When I finished, her milage had improved to 22-24 mpg but I used a hotter plug than the original.
Added some injector cleaner and high octain gas and suddenly she lept to 32-34mpg which she has consistantly maintained as long as I use the high octain gas. It might sound expensive at a few cents more per gallon than the lowest or even midgrade, but I get so much more milage on it that it’s cheaper to use! Not bad for a 16 year old car.
(she’s a 305v6)
So, with that in mind, I see no reason whatsoever for the auto industry not to improve on mpg’s with a few minor engine modifications. My car is a sedan, not a compact, very comfortable and roomy with lots of electrical gadgets..fancy. If I, a non-mechanic can improve an old vehical that much, surely folks who know what they’re doing can make a few hotrod changes in current engines without sacrificing comfort and appeal. They started the process back in the 80’s and here it is 20 years later with more/better technology.
I just don’t think it’s been financially cost effective for them to do so since gas and oil are secondary sales, much like vacume cleaner bags offer an ongoing source of revenue for vacume sales.
Yep. End of the line for SUVs. Or at least affordably priced SUVs.
But forcing everybody into a Prius is for the common good, Comrade.
Um, Poser, you really do need to apply a weighted average. If you leave the two-wheelers parked in your garage and only drive your Ranger, your weighted average is 18 mpg. If you joy ride one of the two wheelers on a weekend and use the Ranger as your daily cruiser, your weighted average goes up to maybe 20 or 22 mpg. Sorry to rain on your parade.
Mandating that SUVs get 35 MPG will simply cause the auto manufacturers to make smaller SUVs
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The auto manufacturers have been playing games with the CAFE standards for years ,,, why do you think Chrysler makes the PT Cruiser and Chevy the HHR ,, they are a Neon and a Cobalt with different bodywork but they are classified as trucks , same as that C2500 is...
35mpg isn’t out of the realm of the possible... Land Rovers Discovery gets 30+ mpg in europe with a 3.0L turbodiesel and you can say the same about the ISUZU Trooper with diesel engine (sold everywhere outside the US)...
US manufacturers are FINALLY getting on the direct injection bandwagon ,,, hey it’s only been 52 years since Chevy and Pontiac V8’s were first offered with fuel injection... I remember in 1974/75 when Chevy was arguing that the then current standards were “impossible” to meet and Honda (then new to cars and just selling their fist “600” model) took up the challenge and in 4 months took a full size Chevy and created new 4 valve heads for it and took the car from 12 mpg to 20+ AND increased power by the same percentage AND met emission standards with no catalyst.
If Honda tells you it’s not possible then I’d believe it ,,, Chevy/Ford/Dodge have always just played games with the politicians ,, no interest at all in building the best most advanced cars outside of “special” products such as the Corvette.
I’m buying a diesel Accord when they become available.
There are exactly two vehicles sold in the US today that meet this standard - the hybrid Civic and the hybrid Prius.
Even the smallest conventional cars on the road - 2200lb, 100hp death traps like the Yaris - fall 4-5mpg short.
This bill is saying, no ands ifs or buts about it, that the only affordable vehicle you will be permitted to buy is something along the lines of a 70hp Geo Metro. If you can swing 25-30k, you can have a 100hp Prius.
If you want to move cargo, or four people comfortably, or drive off paved roads, or survive a collision, buy used.
I try to keep up with cars, racing etc. The last ten years have been spent increaseing horsepower not mpg. Thats not to say we haven’t been seeing increases in mpg also. But all the auto companies, domestic and foreign have been jacking up horsepower at an astonishing rate.
Automakers have also increased the size and weight of pickups in a load capacity war. Instead of just moving customers up to a higher weight class the standard 1/2 ton pickup just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
high octain gas and suddenly she lept to 32-34mpg which she has consistantly maintained as long as I use the high octain gas. It might sound expensive at a few cents more per gallon than the lowest or even midgrade, but I get so much more milage on it that it’s cheaper to use!
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If your mileage goes up with higher octane fuel and your car is supposed to run on regular per the manufacturer then you have a problem with the engine where (most likely) a knock sensor is retarding the ignition when running on regular grade fuel, perhaps the thermostat is opening at too high a temp (above 195) or you aren’t getting proper EGR flow,, you see lower octane fuel has more BTU’s per gallon and should give higher fuel economy ... BTW your engine is a 3.8L V6 not a 305,,, GM’s “top engine cleaner” or “Seafoam” will loosen and remove combustion chamber and intake manifold/valve deposits if thats the cause of your preignition problem leading to your use of high test.
The diesel Land Rover Discovery is rated at 23 mpg combined by the UK test.
The only modern diesel sold (or was until recently) in the US is the 1.9L Volkswagen, and even that - a tiny 2800lb hatchback - barely broke 30mpg by the EPA test and as such does not comply with Congress's pipe dream.
Automakers have also increased the size and weight of pickups in a load capacity war. Instead of just moving customers up to a higher weight class the standard 1/2 ton pickup just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
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I hear you ,, 300-370 hp in a half ton pickup is crazy ,, and a F150 now weighs more than a F-450 did a decade ago ,, it’s all part of Detroits game ,, to meet truck/SUV efficiency laws they are pushing their vehicles into the 8500# gross and higher category which isn’t counted in the CAFE mix.. My first truck was a ‘72 F-100 with a 360 cid FE series big block and a C-6 auto ,, probably weighed 60% or less of what a new truck does and it would haul/pull more than any sane person would want to with a non-commercial vehicle.
The only modern diesel sold (or was until recently) in the US is the 1.9L Volkswagen, and even that - a tiny 2800lb hatchback - barely broke 30mpg by the EPA test and as such does not comply with Congress’s pipe dream.
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I don’t know why in the EPA tests the VW TDI got that rating but I know people that use TDI New Beetles and Jettas for courier service and keep methodical records ,, 45 mpg is the norm for their fleet.
P.S. 2800 lbs isn’t “tiny” I’ve had a 2100# 1982 Civic and a 2300# 1986 VW GTI (that I put on a diet down to approx 2150#)..
Because Jimmy Carter's EPA asked a bunch of brilliant nerds who had never actually seen a car before how they'd test one, so they came up with an idiocy to be played with treadmills and computers instead of actually driving the thing.
45mpg that they may get, the EPA calls it 32 combined and that's the requirement manufacturers are required to meet.
That’s half of it, the other half is the expectation that you’re going to eventually crash your vehicle head on into a brick wall at 40mph and accordingly every vehicle on the road needs to carry along a 500lb, $5000 crumple frame every mile of the way.
Not so. The government regulations relate to vehicle sales, not vehicle mileage. It's the fleet sales average, not the fleet mileage average.
In any case, I put a whole lot more mileage on my motorcycles than I do my truck. I drive the truck about 3,000 miles a year. I ride the Electra-Glide about 5K miles, the V-Strom about 10K, the 48 Harley about 3K the scooters each get about 3K and the Scion about 5K.
I only drive a 4-wheeler when there is ice on the road or I'm technically incompetent to fix one of my babies and have to haul it to Black Death Cycles for expert service.
I replaced the pink 1966 Vespa with the V-Strom this summer.
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