What is "technically feasible" fuel economy?
Aren't automakers duping consumers?A 'technically feasible' approach to fuel economy has become the new buzzword among automakers, including Toyota, the king of hybrid cars. Yet, if a Toyota Prius can achieve almost 50 mpg and a Camry hybrid can achieve more than 40 mpg, then why are automakers fighting even 35 mpg as a new CAFE standard?
The new CAFE standards will not even go into effect until 2020. By then, Toyota, for example, will probably be on at least their 5th generation of hybrid technology. Even hybrid late-comers, such as GM and Ford, will have already moved through multiple generations of hybrid technology.
--> Finish: What is 'technically feasible' fuel economy?
Labels: biofuels, CAFE, Foreign Oil Dependency, fuel economy, Hybrid Vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
9:08 AM
1 Comments:
Complete Story
A 'technically feasible' approach to fuel economy has become the new buzzword among automakers, including Toyota, the king of hybrid cars. Yet, if a Toyota Prius can achieve almost 50 mpg and a Camry hybrid can achieve more than 40 mpg, then why are automakers fighting even 35 mpg as a new CAFE standard?
The new CAFE standards will not even go into effect until 2020. By then, Toyota, for example, will probably be on at least their 5th generation of hybrid technology. Even hybrid late-comers, such as GM and Ford, will have already moved through multiple generations of hybrid technology.
Even more interesting, by that time, hybrids-are-the-future Toyota will be at a point where the prices of hybrid vehicles equal that of conventional vehicles - at least if Toyota is to be believed. Consequently, by 2020, 35 mpg will easily be achievable, even for large SUVs and trucks.
Yet, at 35 mpg, based upon America's ever-increasing patterns of energy consumption, America will be as dependent upon foreign oil as today, maybe even more dependent unless biofuels achieve some incredible breakthroughs. Ultimately, 35 mpg by 2020, isn't enough. Yet, automakers continue to fight even this proposal.
Inevitably, automakers are fighting against what is 'technically feasible', and their disingenuous, dishonest rhetoric and lobbying might help them in the short term, but it certainly won't help in the long term.
Post a Comment
<< Home