I haven't had the time to post. Been busy. Here I go.
The technology is already there, has been for some time.
True, but in what form?
In nearly the same form they were in 20 years ago. The enemy isn't power. Power can be turned down on demand. For example, a turbocharged car barely burns more fuel than a normally aspirated one if you use a light foot. My girlfriend's 2.0 NA Jetta actualy gets worse MPG that the 1.8 turbo model. The enemy is weight, and to a lesser extent size, because these things can't be turned down. The reason a new Civic gets far worse MPG than the ones from 20 years ago is because they are %50 heavier. They, like most things in America, have become fat.
The truth is that everything car makers gain by using loads of lightweight alloys and composites, cylinder management, hybrid drivelines, aerodynamics, etc gets pissed away because the cars just keep getting bigger and bigger.
Agreed, but they've added new models to fill the bottom shelf as cars grew (new Civic = old Accord and new Fit = old Civic). The bigger problem is power. I find it quite nutty that the average V6 powered grocery-getter is more powerful than a fifteen year old M3.
As I mentioned before, the problem isn't really power. A new Honda Odyssey has something like 40 more HP than an E30 M3, but is also cleaner by far and gets about the same MPG despite it weighing double. The difference is in the gearing of the M3 (close and low for performance), active cylinder management (the rear bank shuts off in the Honda during cruising), and the fact that BMW, historically, doesn't give a shit about CAFE.
Just shovel all those f*cking minivans and SUVs into a big smelting pit and start offering some diesel and we're there.
But they're in a different class and don't have to meet the same mileage requirements. The biggest reason that they are popular is because people want big powerful vehicles and it's easier for manufacturers to meet that need with light trucks. The disparity between mileage requirements remains in the new rules, which is why I fear these new standards won't help as much as they could.
Customers want big because overconsumption is the way of life we have. They want power because a 4500lb SUV will be a turtle without it. Customers aren't crafty enough to cheat the system, but the OEMs sure are. The only reason why the aging PT Cruiser is still in production is because Chrysler managed to grease enough palms to get it classified as a light truck. Obviously this does wonders for their light truck CAFE, but its basically a joke because the PT isn't a truck, at all. Its a weak-ass POS with less power and hauling capacity than a Golf. These sorts of shenanigans are what [iss me off. We need to keep pressure on the EPA and NHSTA to keep this sort of BS from happening.
A Bluemotion Golf (not a US model, of course) gets 52 MPG. That's just a relatively normal diesel engine, no Hybrid stuff.
It's also dirt slow, won't meet US emissions, and starts at nearly $30,000. If I'm going to be forced into a slowmobile, I'd rather pay half for a similarly sized Nissan Versa; sure, it'll get a third less mileage, but an extra $15,000 in my pocket will pay for a pant load of gas.
Um...I'm not sure where you are getting your info. Slow: not really. Won't meet US emissions: this is only because VW hasn't bothered to offer it and therefore test it, in the US. VW is now selling diesels in Cali thanks to us finally getting low sulfur diesel in the US so things are moving forward in that direction. $30,000? Also, I don't know where you get this. Are you converting the Euro/GBP price to USD? If so then you should know that doesn't work. A GTI is $22,000 in the US which equals about £13,000. In reality a GTI sold in the UK is about £20,000. Everything costs more in europe and the UK. Currently the US spec diesel Jetta (the only small diesel they sell here) is about $22,000, and if you think this car is slower than a Versa then...think again. It moves just fine. Also, the difference in overall "car" between a Jetta and a Versa, engine aside, is pretty huge. I don't have a problem with Nissan or anything, but the Versa is no Golf, hence even the base prices being vastly different. If you want to compare a Versa to a VW it would be more realistic to use the Polo as an example. The TDI Polo will get you even better MPG than the Golf, and lately the gas version and diesel versions are priced the same.
I totally understand your concern for the effectiveness of these rules. What I said is that if we want fuel efficient cars and lower CO output (these two are basically the same thing) then we can have it. In fact, Toyota already met these fuel economy standards 25 years ago, they just don't meet them now because now they sell giant gas guzzlers. The whole point of CAFE working the way it does is that the manufacturer can make whatever they want, but they will have to restrict sales of the super suckers and regulate things somewhat themselves. Really they can even make as many gas guzzlers they want as long as they pay huge fees (see: Bentley) so if people want a Escalade they'll have to pay many thousands more in fees that Cadillac will pass on to the government. This isn't a problem, IMO, since the real issue with Americans and their cars being such gluttonous fat f*cks doesn't come in the form of people in Ferraris and Vipers and H2s pumping out emissions, it comes in the form of 14MPG minivans that do 15,000 miles a year with only one person in the vehicle.
But like I said, if we want it, we can have it. Shit, I wouldn't even have to change my car buying habits all all since I've never owned a car that weighed more than 2300 lbs and I've only owned I4s. The cars in that catagory will always be able to meet these requirements. Just tax the living shit out of the minivans and SUVs so that no one will buy them and we're there. This really isn't an issue.
Topic: New fuel economy standards (Read 654 times)
