Quote:
Originally Posted by Particle Man
I'm implying that despite everything that's been said, we've known for years how to 1) make cars run on something other than petroleum products, 2) produce products that get significantly higher mileage even using petroleum products
GM is a great example: they would rather focus on producing gas hog SUV's and trucks rather than focus on smaller vehicles because it would cost too much to go the other way (and they're paying dearly for it). Point out one American car company that has had something other than a concept car come out that gets 50+ mpg or that has over half of it's production line get in the high 30's at least for gas mileage? I'm saying that there's no reason for it other than the all mighty dollar.
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The market for the kind of car that'll actually get 50 mpg in the US IMO is limited, well it is unless gas is $4/gal. But even then companies that do make eco-shitboxes didn't make anywhere near enough to supply demand, and now there's no demand at all.
Maybe your idea of a car is a Fit, but it isn't mine. 50 mpg requires a small engine, and a very light car, Now I'm all for a CF vette, but they still cost to much, the manufacturing technology to do it cheap just doesn't exist yet. It'll probably have to be a manual, most people don't buy manuals. It'd have to very slow, not what I like to drive. Like Corey mentions you can increase torque, but that makes for engines that don't rev. They are doing variable valve timing which can widen the torque range, but it's not cheap.