Quote:
Originally Posted by Bicycle Bob
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.
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If you truly believe that the government stifles progress in fuel economy explain the chart below of US fleet fuel economy.
CARS:
From 1978 to 1990 the US government increased CAFE from 18 mph to 27.5 mpg. From 1991 to 2010 they held CAFE steady at 27.5 mpg. From 2011 to 2020 CAFE steadily increased from 27.5 to 40.9 mpg
TRUCKS:
CAFE went from 17.5 mpg in 1982 to 20.5 in in 1989. In 1990 CAFE requirements actually dropped to 20 then climbed back to 20.7 in 1996. From 1996 to 2004 it held steady at 20.7 mpg. For 2005 to 2020 truck fuel economy climbed steadily to 31 mpg.
When the government requires manufacturers to increase fuel economy they do. That is the only time we increase fuel economy.