Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf
I think most of us are probably just going on past performance. We've had several decades of listening to Detroit say "but we can't possibly do that", where "that" seems to be anything but build bigger cars with worse fuel economy. So why should we believe them this time around?
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Maybe because they developed super efficient diesel hybrids in the past.
NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles
Gm had developed the 80 mpg diesel hybrid Precept, ford had developed the 72 mpg diesel hybrid Prodigy, and Chrysler had developed the 72 mpg diesel-hybrid ESX-3. (Suck it prius owners :P ) They were ready to go into production with these cars only to be kicked in the nads by the epa.
Review of the Research Program of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles: Seventh Report
Note CIDI = Compression Ignition Direct Injection
"The last committee report (NRC, 2000) noted that the Tier 2 NO x and particulate matter (PM) emission standards could preclude the early introduction and widespread use in the United States of CIDI engines for passenger cars. Without the CIDI engine the fuel economy of near-term PNGV cars could drop by as much as 25 percent, the approximate difference in fuel economy between a CIDI and a homogeneous-charge, spark-ignition engine. Although, as detailed later in this report, significant progress is being made in developing exhaust after-treatment systems for CIDI engines, these devices make this power plant less attractive by increasing its fuel consumption and cost. Alternative power plants that can meet the Tier 2 emission standards will, in all likelihood, have substantially higher fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. This raises the obvious policy question of the relative importance to the nation of decreasing fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions compared with the need to tighten the NO x and PM standards at this time."
If it wasn't for this sudden tightening of emissions standards the big 3 would have beaten the foreign car makers to the punch with hybrid cars.