Quote:
Originally Posted by a_Username
I guess Capitalism is screwed then.
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Most manufacturing companies would probably fail if they only invested in what people want
now. Afterall, it takes months to years to bring a product to market. Buyers in 2013 will probably want something different than what they wanted in 2011.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fielderLS3
What will happen is actually not that hard to figure out because it has happened before. Cars will get smaller, perform poorer, and cost more all at the same time.
In other words, they are accepting the standard under threat of having even worse mandates forced upon them. Just because the automakers have been extorted into accepting it without putting up a fight does not mean they are "in favor" of it.
On the other hand, why would the automakers ultimately care? They won't be paying for this, we will.
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Oh they fought ... how do you think it went from 62 down to 54.5?
Quote:
Originally Posted by TOMS1SS
I showed my older brother the new CAFE standard last night. He isn't a car person by any measure but even he knew that 54.5 MPG isn't something realistic in roughly a decade time period.  |
Vehicles primarily burning gasoline (or diesel) will get a good deal less than 54.5 mpg. Due to the way its calculated, I bet they will end up with a real world average of 30 to 40 mpg. To start with, the archaic methodology gives everything roughly a car a 20% bonus vs its EPA window sticker. Then figure in that electric vehicles & plug in hybrids can easily achieve a 100 mpg rating, probably 200 by 2025. If sold in high volume, they'll skew the curve to read artificially high.