Increase in FE Standards Not Looking Good

[SVOboy]

Sounds like it's not too likely to happen:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...072601820.html

4% a year seems rather reasonable of an increase to ask, somewhat sticks the auto industry with going completely hybrid in the next 15-20 years,

Either that or make smaller cars again.

CAFE FAQ: http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles...l-economy.html

[ZugyNA]

Current Congress tries passing laws like flag burning crap...police state laws...but can't manage stuff like better CAFE standards or minimum wages.

Sort of makes you wonder who bought them????????

Well you might wonder about it...but I don't.

[SVOboy]

Well, politics aside, we might as well do something to urge them to consider this bill. I'll send a short email to my congressperson right now; good ole Jimmy Saxton.

[The Toecutter]

We could have 40+ mpg CAFE starting immediately just by addressing aerodynamics, with no new engine technology, no fancy composite materials, no hybrid drives or diesel engines, no fancy tires needed.

The auto industry is stagnant. They want the profits of the days of old, without having to work for it. Meanwhile, the foreigners, seeing Detroit's stupidity, ration out advancements just as slow but stay only one step ahead of Detroit, to keep the upper hand.

[SVOboy]

If we're going to dump a ton of money totally revamping things I say we follow the dennis kucinich fast track to renewable energy. In 04 he had a plan to get the entire country up to 10% by 2010 and 20% by 2020, but noooo.

[Sludgy]

Politicians who want us to buy gas pigs include:

Those from energy-producting states, like Texas, Louisiana and Alaska,
Those from industrial states, like Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio who need to protect auto industry job,
Those from refining states, such as Texas, Louisiana, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

In addition the above states:
ALL Federal politicians love the gasoline tax,

There's no mystery why national CAFE standards haven't been raised in decades. Good gas economy hurts jobs and reduces tax revenues.

The solution is to vote with your pocketbook. Buy the most fuel efficient car that meets your needs.

[The Toecutter]

I rather liked his plan, but certain industries just won't have it. They want to make money off of a peak oil crisis. Price per barrel might triple from unmet demand, but that doesn't mean the cost to extract and refine goes up proportionally. Guess where profits go?

If this nation were rational and actually attempted to address this energy crisis, we could easily exceed Dennis Kucinich's goal. Viable EV technology's been here for a decade to allow long range, good performance, and theoretically, low cost in maass production. Wind electricity is now cheaper than coal(just not as profitable as coal). Solar electricity is competitive with the 70s-era nuclear plants we currently have in operation if you kill nuclear subsidies(but again, not as profitable). New nuclear technology, while not renewable, is theoretically cheaper than coal. Industrial hemp is a very valuable feedstock for plastics, textiles, and petrochemical replacements that we could use, and also an excellent source of biodiesel that won't produce near the negative impact on our environment or use near as much water as other crops. Our cars could be made to have drag coefficients in the .16-.20 range to double fuel economy, allowing 35 mpg V8 musclecars, 50 mpg V6 sedans, and allow 80+ mpg full size cars powered by biodiesel.

But these things are by and large ignored by politicians. They make less profit than status quo, even if consumers and taxpayers might save billions from use of the renewables. There are a lot of people making money off of oil scarcity, especially oil companies, politicians and defense contractors, and they intend to keep making it.

[Sludgy]

There's a "sea change" coming in automobiles, but domestic automakers are too mired in the past to see the technology coming.

PHEVs and pure EVs are going to be here within 2-4 years. Three big breakthroughs have already happened: AC motors, regenerative controllers, and lithium batteries. Stir in a some aerodynamics, lrr tires and we're talking 100 mpg (equivalent) sedans.

Detroit needs to wake up.