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The economics of hypermiling are likely to change somewhat as time goes by. Fuel prices will likely rise, both due to historical trends and due to the explosive economic growth in India and Asia, which will create more demand for oil. More demand= higher prices.
Being able to get better mpg, and altering a vehicle to get better mpg, will increase the value of said vehicle to the owner, which will be a detterant to buy a new vehicle. Buying a new vehicle to replace a good serviceable vehicle is economically disasterous and worse on the economy than recycling a running vehicle, and recycling the components that wear out. Nearly every major replacement part can be bought used or rebuilt for much less than new, and keeps those parts out of landfills.
Were there more people hanging onto their good serviceable vehicles because they could get better than EPA mpg from them, it would alter the perceived needs of new car buyers and the big 3 may realize anew the importance of fuel economy and longevity in a vehicle, instead of the disposable vehicles that seem popular with mfgers now.
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 RIP Maxima 1997-2012
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf
I think you missed the point I was trying to make, which is that it's not rational to do either speed or fuel economy mods for economic reasons. You do it as a form of recreation, for the fun and for the challenge.
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Last edited by ShadeTreeMech; 09-26-2010 at 07:14 PM..
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