US vehicle efficiency hardly changed since Model T(newscientist.com)
newscientist.com
US vehicle efficiency hardly changed since Model T
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17506-us-vehicle-efficiency-hardly-changed-since-model-t.html
5 comments
Great reporting, especially the part about the Model T's horsepower, weight, and top speed vs todays cars. Not to mention safety. Strap a 20 horsepower engine onto the lightest car with a 5 start crash test rating - it is doubtful you can get any miles to the gallon since it would hardly move.
If it made economical sense, people would be clamoring for massively fuel efficient cars.
But look at it as it is now: A hybrid car carries a premium over a normal car of much more money than a hybrid owner could ever hope to recoup in gas savings. That will change as the price of gas increases, which will happen naturally as we run low on fossil fuels, which will push a switch to more fuel efficient vehicles or alternative energy vehicles.
For now, there is no problem. I wish people would stop making noise about it.
But look at it as it is now: A hybrid car carries a premium over a normal car of much more money than a hybrid owner could ever hope to recoup in gas savings. That will change as the price of gas increases, which will happen naturally as we run low on fossil fuels, which will push a switch to more fuel efficient vehicles or alternative energy vehicles.
For now, there is no problem. I wish people would stop making noise about it.
You're making the assumption that there's no negative externalities--such as climate change or the inability to affordably produce plastics and other durable petroleum products--that can be caused by continued high fuel consumption.
But ranked by number of cup-holders there have been major improvements.
Anyway US car makers have realized the real secret to engineering success - movie tie-ins. http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/22/2010-transformers-special...
Anyway US car makers have realized the real secret to engineering success - movie tie-ins. http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/22/2010-transformers-special...
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The Model T 4 cylinder made 20hp. There are 4 cylinder motors today that make 200+hp and go 20+mpg in the vehicles they are used in. The fuel is obviously being used more efficiently.
Additionally, modern engines and their exhaust systems control particulate matter in exhaust to a much higher degree than ever before. These systems rob efficiency from the actual energy output of the motor, but have been deemed a metric that should be optimized ( by the general public and regulations).