Quote:
Originally Posted by JSH
Manufacturers are free to use any tech we want to reduce fuel economy and meet fuel economy. Generally that is a combination of engine technology, weight savings, and aerodynamics.
US buyers tend to buy vehicles by the pound and want the largest and most powerful vehicle they can afford for their dollar. They don't want to drive small cars or low cars.
We also buy vehicles for edge use cases not the 95 - 98% of everyday driving.
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Yeah, the mileage goal can be met by beating the test conditions, ignoring real world conditions and changes with wear. The goal of the companies is to increase sales, so they can boost that showroom number by using complex technology and unfixable components. Then the marketing demons convince everyone that they need two tons of steel for safety and status.
Governments tend to accidentally stifle progress with regulations, often specifying things that are soon obsolete and not adjusting laws to suit. Lawyers don't have time to learn more about technology than the average consumer, and love money more than efficiency. We would be a lot better off if advertising was banned, and public education made heroes out of people who reduce their consumption while improving their lives.