Fuel Efficiency Standards Finalized.... (54.5 mpg U.S. CAFE regs for 2025)

[christofoo]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...unfortunately, the gobberment's method of getting "higher MPG" is to simply 'stand' on top of the ever-increasing pile of "dead" auto manufacturers.

I recall in the TARP days folks seemed to think low FE was a reason US autos were not selling very well abroad. One might argue higher FE regs will make it easier to sell in the US and still remain competitive elsewhere.

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by UltArc

Say bye bye to a few brands. From Aston to Zonda, we will be losing some high end performance cars if they don't merge back with big companies, like Bugatti/Lambo/Auto Union (VW, scoda, suzuki, porsche, audi so on). I say back regarding Volvo, Jaguar and Aston being sold off by Ford to different companies, like Tata.

At least in Europe, the Veyron can get 9 mpg because a 60mpg Polo can balance it out. What does Pagani have to balance out the Zonda R F Race edition? The Zonda S? Lol

Nothing will change. All you will have to do is pay the guberment a bribe and call it, I dont know something like a "gas guzzler tax" and it will be all better.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...unfortunately, the gobberment's method of getting "higher MPG" is to simply 'stand' on top of the ever-increasing pile of "dead" auto manufacturers.

You sure it's the government? Seems to me that most if not all of the "dead" US automakers committed suicide by building POS cars that hardly anyone wanted to buy. Evidence of this is the way they were replaced in the market by Honda, Toyota, Subaru, etc.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by Daox

It also doesn't mean EVERYTHING needs to get 54.5 mpg. CAFE is corperate average fuel economy which means the AVERAGE fuel economy of any one brand must be 54.5 mpg.

They also have over a decade to accomplish this. EVs will be large portion of tipping the scales to allow light truck sales.

EVs will be part of it. The real move will be when GM buys Huffy, Ford buys Giant and Chrysler buys Specialized.

Originally Posted by UltArc

Say bye bye to a few brands. From Aston to Zonda, we will be losing some high end performance cars if they don't merge back with big companies, like Bugatti/Lambo/Auto Union (VW, scoda, suzuki, porsche, audi so on).

I thought the CAFE penalties and the Gas Guzzler Tax let them do anything they want, as well as being how Washington consulted with consumers. Take this 2012 Lamborghini Aventador: the Gas Guzzler Tax is itemized at $3700, while the CAFE penalty is included in the base price. Is raising efficiency requirements going to drive luxury sports cars from the US market or just make them more expensive?

[niky]

It hits where it matters. People who are buying exotics aren't going to care, and don't buy enough to make a huge impact. People who buy V8 pick-ups or big V6 minivans just to drive down to the corner store will.

[Grant-53]

The CARB started because of the smog problems on the West Coast due to weather and geography. CAFE is the fleet average so the target is to have most passenger cars get 60 mpg to offset the the trucks sold. Farmers and fleet operators are very attuned to the cost of operating vehicles and natural gas is increasingly attractive. Based on the results from many ecomodder projects, improved aerodynamics can gain up to a 50% increase in fuel economy and hypermilling can yield the same gain. The potential then is that a used car that got 30 mpg could be modified and driven at 55 mpg.
The fracking debate is yet another eco-bogey used to frighten people. Here on the NY-PA border in the Marcellus shale region, a great deal of testing and monitoring goes on as NY politicians decide when and how to regulate gas extraction. The hydrofracture process takes place thousands of feet below the water table. The real problems come from spills of drilling fluids into surface water. Tank trucks are used to haul fluids to processing sites. If you want really nasty well water, live next to a strip mine.