Quote:
Originally Posted by derklug
Fuel economy is getting down to the point where people will have to start accepting some reduced driveability. Start/stop motors that shutdown when not in motion, poorer acceleration, smaller a/c systems, and lighter smaller cars. Automakers will not be able to meet the higher CAFE standards after 2015 without a generous mix of hybrids and all electrics. And as far as diesels go, the EPA is doing their level best to make them too expensive for passenger car use.
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They can also switch over to really expensive metals that can ignite at relatively low temperatures and are very difficult to extinguish!
It's going to be awesome!
Thanks, CAFE!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DGthe3
That would be nice, but its not going to happen. Any reduced demand for gasoline caused by CAFE in the United States is going to be more than offset by increased demand in the rest of the world.
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Not if we drill our own and don't export to anyone (or only export what we don't use ourselves).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Wyndham
Correct me if I'm wrong....but in the 80s and 90s...when the first CAFE law started producing real results....did American's not choose to go out and buy enormous gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs for 2-person families simply because they could? Did US fuel consumption not continue to rise despite cars becoming more efficient...because people just drove more?!
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People dibn't buy them just "because". People do things for a reason, or multiple reasons.
Many people bought SUVs because they have large families that don't fit in tiny cars, and car companies were forced to stop making large RWD cars (or at least affordable ones)
Many people bought trucks and suvs because they have something that has to be towed (camper, boat, snow machine, jetski) and dinky FWD econoboxes are poor at this, and car companies were forced to stop making large RWD cars (or at least affordable ones)
Many people bought SUVs because they want to protect their loved ones as much as possible. Miniature econoboxes offer less protection and generally feel less safe inside to the occupants. They had no alternative, since car companies were forced to stop making large RWD cars (or at least affordable ones)
Many people bought SUVs and trucks because they live in areas where travel is affected by weather, and lightweight cars with dinky tires and no ground clearance do not function as well in these conditions. Trucks were the only choice because car companies were forced to stop making large RWD cars (or at least affordable ones)
Most people who think CAFE is a good idea live in areas where tiny cars are a better fit, and/or think everyone should change their lives to eliminate the need for a large vehicle. These masterminds think they know better than the spontaneous order which we have enjoyed until now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DGthe3
The there is only one truly effective way to cause people to use less gas, and its not CAFE. But continuing on that train of thought would be in violation of our no politics rule so I'll end it there.
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Here's a better idea:
Leave the people alone.
There are bigger problems to address (mostly caused by previous attempts to "cause" people to do more or less of some other thing) and there's no need to create more unintended messes with additional meddling in things too big to understand, no matter how good the intentions.
We'll just leave it at that, because I cannot discuss it in greater detail without violating this forums prime directive.