1975 and energy independence: Will CAFE destroy America?
Thank you CAFE.
What did America drive in 1975?
I don’t remember 1975, but I sure wish I did. Then it seems everything changed in America, but not for the better, and it began in Congress. OK, it didn’t really begin in Congress. It started long before, but 1975 is when Congress — with noble intentions (at least I hope) — almost destroyed America. Or, ironically, considering the escalating Israeli situation, maybe America is already DOA.
Following the Arab oil embargo in 1973, America demanded action. How could a bunch of camel jockeys in the middle of nowhere shut down the world’s most powerful country, I’m sure, most Americans wondered back then. How could an area of the world most Americans knew so little about, be so powerful? Read more…
Categories: Energy Independence, Fuel Economy, gas prices Tags: CAFE, congress, Energy Independence, foreign, gas prices
Is $1 billion for a 100 mpg gasoline sedan an evil Republican plot?
Are we closer to 100 mpg gasoline cars than we think?
Couldn’t it also be a hybrid?
The other day I read a piece on AutoWeek slamming an idea from a Republican Congressman that I’ve never heard of that is apparently part of an evil plan by the entire Republican Party — even those few that actually helped make plug-in tax credits a reality — to crush the whole idea of increased fuel economy. $1 billion for an automaker to develop a 100 mpg gasoline sedan.
“It’s all pretend,” claimed author Davey G. Johnson.
Davey, Davey, Davey. So why then does Utah Professor of Mechanical Engineering Dan Adams disagree? Read more…
Categories: Eco-modification, Fuel Economy, Hybrid Cars, Plug-in Vehicles, Tax Incentives, electric cars Tags: composites, electric cars, Fuel economy, Hybrid Cars
Hybrid and electric car buyers are just better
Go ahead and hate me for being intelligent and responsible
What’s the cost of not taking action?
Sure, the buyers of hybrid and electric cars don’t always make the most cost-effective choices, but many times their choices are best, even financially. For example, many hybrid cars make the best city cars and they can be far more cost-effective than non-hybrids. But even if hybrids and plug-ins are not always cost-effective, at least hybrid and plug-in buyers are taking action, at least they’re taking responsibility.
The rest of America just talks about taking action. Blah, blah, blah. Some day I’m gonna go on a diet, stop smoking, start investing, be a better person — starting tomorrow. Always tomorrow. Sure, we can all talk a big game, but few of us even show up on game day. Thus, despite some arrogance and elitism, maybe even some ignorance, hybrid and electric car buyers are still better than most other Americans. Read more…
Categories: Energy Independence, Fuel Economy, Hybrid Cars, Plug-in Vehicles, electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars Tags: electric cars, Fuel economy, Hybrid Cars, plug-in hybrids
Nissan finally has some hybrid car bragging rights, kind of
M for Master of hybrid speed
Best performance hybrids for the money?
Nissan has been a vocal hybrid bear for many years. Instead of choosing to build a hybrid drive, Nissan first leased Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, preferring to instead focus on pure plug-in electric cars. However, eventually Nissan gave into hybrid momentum and began to develop a proprietary hybrid drive.
And now that hybrid drive, via the Infiniti M hybrid, has given Nissan some hybrid bragging rights: fastest hybrid sedan. Read more…
Categories: Fuel Economy, Hybrid Cars, Infiniti M 35 Tags: Fuel economy, Hybrid Cars, Infinity M35 hybrid
Hybrid cars won’t be enough for the millennial revolution
The Matrix and the Millennial revolution.
It’s the social experience, stupid
Advanced infotainment systems. Stylish and fuel efficient compacts. Those two underlying trends will be key to the future of the auto industry, at least the portion driven by millennials and beyond, according to the latest conventional thinking.
Oh how funny is future shock especially the faster technology evolves. If only the future were so easily predictable. Then such boring predictions might actually come true, and life would be so much more simple. Read more…
Categories: Buying Hybrids, Fuel Economy, Hybrid Cars, Telematics Tags: auto-drive software, Fuel economy, Hybrid Cars
$19,000 Toyota Prius C: Why buy a Corolla or other compact?
A real hybrid challenge to the compact segment
An interesting litmus test for Toyota hybrid cars
Do you really need battery technologies to achieve automotive success through the next decade? According to companies like Hyundai, the answer is no, although even Hyundai will admit that hybrids are still required even if just to maintain image and perception. And most automakers seem to agree, at least judging by the plethora of quality, non-hybrid compact offerings hitting the streets these days.
But the 53 mpg — city NOT highway — Prius C might make automakers rethink the value proposition of compact hybrids. Read more…
Categories: Buying plug-ins, Fuel Economy, Hybrid Cars, Toyota Prius C Tags: Hybrid Cars, Toyota Prius C
Horsepower and hybrids: New Volkswagen Jetta mixes it up
Jetta hybrid to use Prius-crunching horsepower
Gasoline powered fuel efficient fun?
Will there ever be a hybrid that outsells the Toyota Prius, or at least sells as well? If you believe long term automotive forecasts, then you have to believe that someday an automaker will challenge Prius sales.
Volkswagen’s new Jetta hybrid will be VW’s response to the Prius, and while the new VW hybrid probably won’t challenge the hybrid sale’s king, VW is at least bringing a different approach to the challenge. Read more…
Categories: Buying plug-ins, Fuel Economy, Hybrid Cars, VW Jetta hybrid Tags: Hybrid Cars, Toyota Prius, VW Jetta hybrid
American gullibility: Auto industry full of pathetic liars*
What do you mean it doesn't average 40 mpg?
Time for more truth in advertising?
Have you seen the 4 x 40 Hyundai rap video? It’s actually kind of amusing, except for the fact the ad is a complete lie. But who cares about the truth these days?
Not politicians, nor government agencies such as the FTC. Obviously not automakers. And apparently not consumers either. Maybe America just prefers fantasy over reality. I don’t know.
However, I do know the auto industry is full of a bunch of dirty rotten liars*. Read more…
Categories: Fuel Economy Tags: Fuel economy
128.3 mpg in a hybrid: “That’s why I bought this thing”
The dash of Dave's hybrid
If only the rest of America thought the same about fuel economy
Hype. Image. PR. Image over all else. That’s largely the nature of our modern world these days. Maybe it has always been that way. Automakers, for instance, are geniuses at covering up their role in the terrible geopolitical and environmental mess the world finds itself in these days. But they’ve only been giving consumers what they want, right?
Except for people like Dave Perry. Rather than the normal American ride, Dave bought a hybrid to push the limits of gasoline-powered fuel efficiency, and boy did he ever. 128.3 mpg over the course of 132 miles. Read more…
Categories: Buying Hybrids, Energy Independence, Fuel Economy, Honda Insight, Hybrid Cars Tags: Fuel economy, Honda Insight, Hybrid Cars
Seriously? VW is ready to take on the Prius
The platform for real Prius competition?
Aims to make Jetta hybrid a contender
Back in college an old girlfriend of mine used to own a Volkswagen Jetta that I drove quite often. It was a great little car, but I also remember it being a little expensive to maintain. Today, I still like that old Jetta better than the new one. The new styling just doesn’t work for me.
But maybe I’ll be able to overlook its dull design cues if the new Jetta hybrid lives up to VW’s lofty expectations: a true Prius competitor. Read more…
Categories: Buying Hybrids, Fuel Economy, Hybrid Cars, Toyota Prius, VW Jetta hybrid Tags: Hybrid Cars, VW Jetta hybrid
