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How The 35 mpg Law By 2020 Will Affect The Cars We Will Drive - READ ONLY

543 messages,  Last post on Feb 05, 2012 at 12:28 PM

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What is this discussion about? Future Vehicle

Messages Page 55 of 55

#536 of 543 reducing fossil oil usage by wtd44

Jul 21, 2008 (10:06 am)

If we get real lucky, we will use natural gas in place of some gasoline, as we move on to a future fuel such as hydrogen. Our natural gas resources are very high, and using them will not compete with food as does corn-based ethanol, although we use natural gas for heating, etc.

#537 of 543 Re: so [nippononly] by texases

Jul 31, 2008 (7:25 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Jul 16, 2008 9:49 pm)
"I think it likely that the reality is that both represent very expensive oil, which is no solution to the oil price problem, obviously. "
 
You are exactly right. The undrilled onshore leases held by oil companies large and small are being explored as fast as the rigs allow, but the basic truth is that the large, easily-produced onshore oil accumulation in the US were found years, well decades, ago. High oil prices allow exploring for high-cost oil, but these aren't the wells that'll produce at high rates.
 
edit-I almost forgot - if an oil company actually 'sits on' a lease, they can (and are) sued by the property owner for 'failure to develop', so it's really a myth that there are all these millions of acres of productive land that the oil companies just don't want to drill. Simply untrue.

#538 of 543 Have events passed by 35 mpg requirement? by texases

Jul 31, 2008 (7:28 am)

In other words, has the rapid sales switch to higher-mpg vehicles made the government mandate unnecessary? Is there any data on what the current weighted-average mpg is of the cars being bought today?

#539 of 543 More 4 Cylinders and Hybribs and Fewer V8s by hpmctorque

Oct 27, 2010 (5:52 am)

It's happening, and the trend is bound to accelerate, as the next increase in mileage regs goes into effect in 2014. It is evident among my neighbors and friends who've traded their cars since the last message was posted on this forum, in July 2008.
 
Did the last car you bought have better fuel economy than the one it replaced?

#540 of 543 next one will by stickguy

Oct 27, 2010 (11:30 am)

probably the next car purchase in my family will be something to replace our Odyssey minivan. And I hope to make it be something that gets better MPG, especially around town!
 
the Ford C-maxx (or whatever it will be called) or Mazda 5 look perfect. To me at least, not sure about the wife! she probably wants some sort of CUV, and most of those dont get any better MPG than the van, unless you go real small (and I doubt that is happening).
 
MPG though will not be the primary consideration, but it will be in the equation.

#541 of 543 More Hybrids, Electrics, and Upgraded Compacts by hpmctorque

Aug 01, 2011 (7:28 am)

Well, we're seeing it already, but the pace will quicken, maybe exponentially as we get to 2020, and then race to even tighter standards to meet 54.5 mpg by 2025. Virtually every major manufacturer is introducing or expanding its offerings of hybrids. Most, such as Nissan/Renault, BMW, and Fiat are developing full electrics. Weight reduction and space efficiency are being given more attention than at any time in the past. Finally, a wide array of technology, such as start/stop (just one of countless examples), are being employed to improve fuel efficiency.
 
Among the effects of the sum total of these changes will be significant vehicle price increases. More buyers will be relegated to the used market. Cars will become throw-away items to a greater extent than even today, as the cost of repairing a car that's been in an accident becomes increasingly uneconomical. I'm also thinking that driving and car ownership will probably be less fun.
 
And that's just for starters.

#542 of 543 glass half full or empty by benjaminh

Aug 01, 2011 (10:58 am)

I see it as half full because of this...
 
But, I wonder if the moderators should focus the CAFE threads. It seems we have three. Maybe we need just one? Close the other two?? I don't care which one, but it does seem like people here should have one thread in news and views to talk about this important issue...

#543 of 543 Re: glass half full or empty [benjaminh] by steve_ HOST

Feb 05, 2012 (12:28 pm)

Replying to: benjaminh (Aug 01, 2011 10:58 am)
Let's pick it up here.

Messages Page 55 of 55

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