Posted on 12/14/2010 3:46:53 PM PST by Hojczyk
Politically motivated energy solutions continue to exacerbate the problems they were supposed to counteract. The automotive industry and the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) regulations, which originated in 1975 as a result of the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo, make up only one example of many.
In the early 1980s, American car-makers were refining the design strategies necessary to meet the mileage requirements imposed by the government. One of the Big Three automakers' programs called for the use of a small four-cylinder engine equipped with a supercharger -- a mechanism that intermittently forces air into the combustion chamber to provide more complete combustion and greater power when needed.
Following a planning meeting with one of the key suppliers, a design engineer was asked the inevitable question: Is this going to work? He smiled and replied that although the mileage standards would be met, it might be more practical to consider all of the energy inputs that go into the manufacture of an automobile engine. He noted that the metal has to be mined or reclaimed from scrap, then smelted. Depending on the engine component, it then requires forming, casting, machining, and other operations prior to final assembly. There is also energy usage for transportation at virtually every step of the process, as well as indirect costs related to plant operation. He noted that with proper care, the typical six- or eight-cylinder engine could have a useful life that frequently exceeded 200,000 miles. Unfortunately, the supercharged smaller engines would run so hot that many would not see 100,000 miles. The end result: the improved mileage standards resulted in a net expenditure of far more energy.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Politicians NEVER consider all the intangibles or extended costs. They only consider the “politics” of their actions.
Ah yes, the Algore Paradox.
Depends on whose par-a-dox is being Gored....
Right, I remember when he was caught with those
two young prostitutes, the headline read,
“Algore caught with Pair of doxies.”
Really the Algore Paradox...
When the solution to an energy problem
requires more energy than the problem.
No the Government has got it right becuause of
EPA Regulations May Result in 50,000 MW of Coal Plant Retirements and $180 Billion in Compliance Costs
as stated before with the administration energy policy against coal prices will necessary skyrocket.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.