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Automotive News & Views Are automobiles a major cause of global warming?
6840 messages, Last post on Nov 25, 2009 at 2:33 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: oldfarmer50 (Nov 22, 2008 6:22 am) Global warming is as real as real can be. The science of it is getting really dialed in, going from computer modelling (problematic, as you know) to more empirical data gathering. It's a bit harder to pin down HOW MUCH of it is due to automobiles, I would imagine, but the science is getting much better at ascertaining how much of it is man-made. I think any country that does not immediately start addressing this issue is doomed to extinction economically, not weather-wise. (that would take decades and decades) As this pertains to cars, it's obvious to me that the future lies in vehicles that will conform to global world standards that will have to be implemented. If American automakers decline to do this, then the Japanese and Europeans will, and we won't have an auto industry of any kind in 10-20 years IMO. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS |
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 23, 2008 11:40 am) What "standards" would that be? Hybrid sales are increasing, got the "Volt" type cars coming along. |
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 23, 2008 11:40 am) Not to pick on the Chinese, but they aspire to more vehicles and they will soon match the 254.1 M US car volume and of course European Countries have pretty close to the same population. So if you add US 254.1 M and Euro 260 M and TBD 300 M Chinese volume (not to exclude other countries vehicle populations, you are talking a min of 814 M vehicles !!!! I poached what I posted on another thread ..."Indeed the Big Three's recent "tribulations" have finally let the facts come to light that DEMOCRATS have ALL ALONG ( least 53 years!?) been major cheerleaders for quashing higher fuel standards, aka Michigan's House of Representatives and acknowledged DEAN (Democrat) The Honorable John D. Dingell. "... link title Indeed we don't even believe it link title Keep in mind the current standards are 27 mpg with a defacto 22 mpg American fleet wide. This is not news to anyone, but the House, Senate, Executive Branch, State Governors, etc, etc, are THE democratic MAJORITY. So there is a min of 4 more years and probably another 4 year option for a total of 8 years of more of the same.
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Replying to: ruking1 (Nov 23, 2008 12:24 pm) FUEL STANDARDS -- global warming is not conservative, or liberal or republican or democrat. Global warming is a national issue. You cannot pin global warming on a political party (not that you were, but just saying). Our sloppiness in environmental protection is like our sloppiness in budget and trade and SS and Medicaire deficits. We just didn't address the issues, we let them slide. Decade after decade, president after president. They are all to blame. Chickens, here's your roost! WORLD STANDARDS -- that's a good question. I threw that term out without really considering what that meant, but I suspect this next generation of automotive technology will be evolutionary rather than revolutionary for the next decade, and then perhaps revolutionary after that, as in hydrogen powered, etc. It could be for instance, that some countries may not even allow imports of autos that do not conform to these world standards. Perhaps you can send a Volt to Europe but not a Corvette, or a MINI diesel hybrid to America but not a Range Rover. Obviously "standards" will include much more than cars--it will have to be industries-wide.
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 23, 2008 12:42 pm) Now this is common knowledge but Warren Buffet has been an investor in rail roads. DAH?? How is that related? Well funny, Mile or so long COAL trains are a very cost effective way to get coal to the ports.... for EXPORT. Now if the new Secretary of State WILL be the "other half "of that famous tag team... well... draw your own conclusions.... Not to mention the Clinton Administration veterans the new President elect is seemingly tapping.
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Replying to: ruking1 (Nov 23, 2008 12:53 pm) We can do 'business as usual' but we'll pay....no, our grandchildren will pay...a punishing price for it. There's no "doom and gloom" about it. Facts are facts, they don't care what we believe or not believe to be true. Denying something doesn't make it false, and asserting it doesn't make it true, right?. I mean, there's hardly a man left alive who would say for instance: "I think we should let the Big Three make only large SUVs and pickups" OR "Now that gas prices are down, let's make all cars V8s" of course not. Slowly but surely everybody gets on board with "basic real world". The trick is not to panic and do something equally stupid in the OTHER direction. |
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 23, 2008 1:13 pm)
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Replying to: ruking1 (Nov 23, 2008 1:25 pm) I tell you the next 20 years are going to be very interesting in terms of the various "lifestyles" in different countries and how those will develop. Americans are going to have to learn to live differently----not worse, but different.
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 23, 2008 1:13 pm) This is not to be contrary, even as it can be construed as contrary, BUT why NOT? If a V8 gets the new 2012 standard of 35 mpg or in the spirit of past exceptions 28.5 mpg?(same ratio as 27 mpg standards with defacto 22 mpg) (for example on the diesels in the news a frequent contributor posted a link to a twin turbo diesel V8 gets 45 mpg on race day and 70 mpg  65 mph)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 23, 2008 2:07 pm) So for example the following are in various stages of vilification (no particular order): ethanol, fuel cells, nat gas, bio diesel, bio mass, batteries, plug in electric, RUG, PUG, D2 E 85, air, water, solar, gee that about covers everything 
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Automotive News & Views Are automobiles a major cause of global warming?
