Automaker support for Trump's CAFE roll-back

[oil pan 4]

Ford made a freshman ecomodder mistake.
They focused way too much on weight reduction.

[redpoint5]

Agreed. When I heard about aluminum beds, my first thought was why.

[oil pan 4]

All you have to do is establish a base line mpg, then add 400lb (the amount of weight I think I read that switching to aluminum body parts saves) to the bed and see how much it doesn't effect fuel economy. It's probably around 1mpg or less.

[redpoint5]

Perhaps it also improved payload and towing ratings too, and that combined with better fuel efficiency helped it pencil out a little better.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Perhaps it also improved payload and towing ratings too, and that combined with better fuel efficiency helped it pencil out a little better.

Decades ago,CAR and DRIVER's technical editor,Csaba Csere commented on weight reduction is association with Lotus Cars' Colin Chapman's credo,'Simplicate,and add lightness.'
Losing mass has compounding effects.Power-to-weight,improved acceleration,better passing,climbing,on less power,lighter engine,transmission,driveline,chassis,brakes,wheel s,tires,better stopping,better polar moment of inertia,depending,handling,less material,less cost,better fuel economy,less pollution,or increased payload,.................
On the open road there'd be a small R-R advantage.In town is where she'd shine,from yields and stops,accelerating or re-accelerating,where inertia tears you a new one.
All good arguments for hybrid,plug-in hybrid, and EV.

[redpoint5]

Pickup truck benefits less from lightness because they can't get away with smaller suspension, brakes, engine since their payload and tow rating needs to remain high. None of those things can be downsized as a result of simply weighing less.

That said, hybrid/electric technology does allow the engine to be downsized, and reduces the weight penalty. Hybrid technology should have begun with pickup trucks, not with the smallest, lightest vehicle on the road.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Nothing clears the traffic like $3.50 a gallon gas.

California's current average price for regular is $3.52 per gallon. LA is still a parking lot at rush hour. Here in Oregon $3 +/- is pretty normal.

I think gas would need to get into the $4 - $5 a gallon range for most people to take notice and move fuel economy near the top of the list when vehicle shopping.

Prices around $3.50 certainly didn't slow down the shift from cars to CUVs from 2011 - 2015.

[freebeard]

I think gas would need to get into the $4 - $5 a gallon range for most people to take notice and move fuel economy near the top of the list when vehicle shopping.

Confirmed. I just called the country store where I buy clear premium and it's $3.99 a gallon. I want an electric tricycle.

[Xist]

Wouldn't a unicycle have the least drag?

How do you make a recumbent unicycle?!

People have tried...

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Xist

Wouldn't a unicycle have the least drag?

How do you make a recumbent unicycle?!

People have tried...

Unicycle would have among the worst Cd.

If I were tasked with an recumbent unicycle, I'd probably make the area just below the seat a hovercraft. Some sort of skirt that blows a sufficient amount of air to not touch the ground. Turning would be tricky and probably rely on weight shifting, or otherwise directing some of the air to one side.

That probably would be extremely hard. Maybe just a platform just above the wheel that you lay on, with weight centered. Seems pretty sketch though. What's that youtube crazy builder guy? Furz or something? Seems like a perfect project for him to tackle.