Man: They want you car companies to build a car which gets 56 mpg? Oh, you poor wretches! How unjust! How may we possibly help you? And how much this time?
Actually, in the ’80’s there were little hatchbacks getting ~50 mpg. They were little shells without much pep, but they got it, so it can be done.It was the collapse of oil prices in the mid-80’s that enabled all the backsliding.
^You forget that those little hatchbacks were like eggshells. They got high mileage by reducing a cars weight, not by making efficient engines. Then along came crash safety standards. And BTW, they got nowhere near 50 mpg. The VW bug was one of the highest mileage cars, and topped out at 35 mpg.
Owned a hybrid until the inverter went out. $8000 repair. Not enough savings in fuel costs to go thru that again. Anyhow, the gov’t should have made 56mpg a mandate for any automaker getting bailed out in ’09.
My hybrid Honda Insight gets 50-55mpg. The shell is lightweight but there’s a steel cage around the passengers. One owner posted photos of an accident in which he had rolled the car but walked away pretty much unhurt. High mpg and safety are not incompatible.And the car companies have whined and moaned about every single improvement in safety and mileage from seatbelts on, saying it would bankrupt them and destroy the American economy. They spend more lobbying against it than they would to implement it. Then, after they’re forced to do it, they come back and run ads congratulating themselves on the wonderful safety or mileage improvement as if they did it on their own because they love their customers. There’s no reason to believe a word they say.
That homeless guy in the doorway is an American, too — possibly even a veteran. So you’re saying that he deserves a Hummer too? Maybe if you give him yours, he’ll have a better place to sleep.
VW has a consept car they were showing at recent auto shows. It is a two seater built of aluminum and carbon fiber weighing 1700 pounds. It has a hybred engine using a small tdi diesel with and electric motor. It is repudiatlly gets 250 miles to the gallon. The production version is planned for 2012 or 2013
The Model T got 13 – 21 mpg according to Ford’s website. They weighed 1,200 pounds & had a top speed of 45mph. A Smart Car weighs 1,800 pounds & can go 90 mph. There have been a LOT of improvements in automobiles since the Model T.
Between lighter/stronger materials & better battery/engine technology, 56 mpg from a small sedan is do-able by 2025.
I like Lee Iococca’s comment, when he was approached by 60 Minutes (maybe 20-20) when they discovered a design flaw in the classic ‘60s Mustang. He said "If you want to buy a safe car, buy a new one. We didn’t know anything about car safety then."Cars today are on average far safer, FAR more reliable, and get better gas mileage.
This is most certainly true. The problem arises at the moment, though, that an individual determines that they want to make that 200 mile trip on a semi-regular basis (going to visit Grandma in another town, for example). At that point, one either has to have 2 (one electric for the average day, and one gas powered for those longer trips), find another means to get to Grandma’s, or most logically, scrap the idea of 2 cars and get a gas powered one.
Good point, the Volt does what you say. However, to date, it’s still very expensive ($41K starting price, without subsidies), and is as of yet, not really flying off the showroom floors (a whopping 481 in May).
I’m as interested in alternate tech as anyone, but really, I think this form is a dead end. I do see hope in fuel cell technology, though, but it’s still not ready for prime time.
Fuzzy Thinker Premium Member almost 13 years ago
Also, legislate water to run uphill.
kreole almost 13 years ago
Harvesting the energy of gasoiline is almost at its maximum in a combustion engine. The waste heat factor ‘is what it is’.
Even the muscles in our body generate waste heat when we work at something….it is what it is.
Motivemagus almost 13 years ago
^Prove it. Go ahead, try.
plissee almost 13 years ago
I wait for it!
meetinthemiddle almost 13 years ago
Actually, in the ’80’s there were little hatchbacks getting ~50 mpg. They were little shells without much pep, but they got it, so it can be done.It was the collapse of oil prices in the mid-80’s that enabled all the backsliding.
hotdogger almost 13 years ago
^You forget that those little hatchbacks were like eggshells. They got high mileage by reducing a cars weight, not by making efficient engines. Then along came crash safety standards. And BTW, they got nowhere near 50 mpg. The VW bug was one of the highest mileage cars, and topped out at 35 mpg.
txmystic almost 13 years ago
Owned a hybrid until the inverter went out. $8000 repair. Not enough savings in fuel costs to go thru that again. Anyhow, the gov’t should have made 56mpg a mandate for any automaker getting bailed out in ’09.
Kevin Parker Premium Member almost 13 years ago
My hybrid Honda Insight gets 50-55mpg. The shell is lightweight but there’s a steel cage around the passengers. One owner posted photos of an accident in which he had rolled the car but walked away pretty much unhurt. High mpg and safety are not incompatible.And the car companies have whined and moaned about every single improvement in safety and mileage from seatbelts on, saying it would bankrupt them and destroy the American economy. They spend more lobbying against it than they would to implement it. Then, after they’re forced to do it, they come back and run ads congratulating themselves on the wonderful safety or mileage improvement as if they did it on their own because they love their customers. There’s no reason to believe a word they say.
Fuzzy Thinker Premium Member almost 13 years ago
I agree with Oliphant- It won’t be cheap and we have bigger fish to fry with our money.
Boise Ed Premium Member almost 13 years ago
That homeless guy in the doorway is an American, too — possibly even a veteran. So you’re saying that he deserves a Hummer too? Maybe if you give him yours, he’ll have a better place to sleep.
tinsleyrc almost 13 years ago
VW has a consept car they were showing at recent auto shows. It is a two seater built of aluminum and carbon fiber weighing 1700 pounds. It has a hybred engine using a small tdi diesel with and electric motor. It is repudiatlly gets 250 miles to the gallon. The production version is planned for 2012 or 2013
Uncle Joe Premium Member almost 13 years ago
The Model T got 13 – 21 mpg according to Ford’s website. They weighed 1,200 pounds & had a top speed of 45mph. A Smart Car weighs 1,800 pounds & can go 90 mph. There have been a LOT of improvements in automobiles since the Model T.
Between lighter/stronger materials & better battery/engine technology, 56 mpg from a small sedan is do-able by 2025.
Motivemagus almost 13 years ago
I like Lee Iococca’s comment, when he was approached by 60 Minutes (maybe 20-20) when they discovered a design flaw in the classic ‘60s Mustang. He said "If you want to buy a safe car, buy a new one. We didn’t know anything about car safety then."Cars today are on average far safer, FAR more reliable, and get better gas mileage.
doc white almost 13 years ago
my electric co. has a cute way of rasing funds. they just say they need it .
jaxaction almost 13 years ago
this x-truck driver sez: nation wide mag-lev trains that are free for passengers AND freight.park ALL that crap, and insurance too.
jaxaction almost 13 years ago
natty gas for ’local" runs
curtisls87 almost 13 years ago
This is most certainly true. The problem arises at the moment, though, that an individual determines that they want to make that 200 mile trip on a semi-regular basis (going to visit Grandma in another town, for example). At that point, one either has to have 2 (one electric for the average day, and one gas powered for those longer trips), find another means to get to Grandma’s, or most logically, scrap the idea of 2 cars and get a gas powered one.
curtisls87 almost 13 years ago
Good point, the Volt does what you say. However, to date, it’s still very expensive ($41K starting price, without subsidies), and is as of yet, not really flying off the showroom floors (a whopping 481 in May).
curtisls87 almost 13 years ago
I’m as interested in alternate tech as anyone, but really, I think this form is a dead end. I do see hope in fuel cell technology, though, but it’s still not ready for prime time.