I could see this happening if it is based on an average of a company's complete line of vehicles (I'm not sure if that's the case or not, but let's say it is lol). I could see a 40 mpg fusion being more likely than a 30 mpg truck, just simply because of physics. But let's say we have a lineup similar to the one I've made...it would make our trucks get an avg of 25 mpg (still not too shabby). That said, I'm not sure I agree with the act, but wouldn't mind a 30 mpg F150 at the same time...just not sure they should be forced to make it; hopefully this doesn't cut into quality like I'm thinking it could :o

Light-duty truck (hybrid maybe? or ecoboost + hybrid?) - F150 - 25 mpg
Heavy-Duty truck - Super Duty - 22 mpg
Full size SUV - Expedition - 25 mpg
Midsize hybrid SUV - Edge - 30 mpg
Compact pickup diesel - Ranger - 30 mpg
Compact SUV hybrid or diesel - Escape - 32 mpg
Fullsize hybrid - Taurus - 37 mpg
midsize hybrid - Fusion - 40 mpg
compact hybrid or TDI - Focus - 50 mpg
subcompact hybrid - Fiesta - 60 mpg
-----------------------------------------------------
Ford's Avg. Fuel Economy = 35.1 mpg

 

If any thing, this will be a standard set forth to the auto makers, not to the every day patrons driving "outdated" vehicles

 

You smokin stuff? Where did we say or even infer anything about Toyota losing money or not? What do small cars with 4 cyl engines have to do with inovations like ABS, stability control,AWD, Nav systems, hybrids, turbo diesel engines...?

 

Yes, gas prices always rise starting in May and usually peak around mid-July.

Actually, some of this due to supply and demand (or what you call 'taking advantage'). But MUCH of this is also due to government interference - so called Summer Blend regulations running from June 1 - Sept 15. This causes 2 problems. First, the refineries must shut down in order to retool - causing a supply drop.

The second is that there is not 1 standard, there are many. There were at least 45 different kinds of gasoline produced in the United States as well as 11 special blends often used in isolated pockets in metropolitan areas. This means the oil refiner cannot just make 1 type of fuel, they need to make many different ones. Small batches are less efficient to manufacture, and lead to local supply-demand issues. All of which drives up the price.

So you see, this isn't some gouge by the oil companies, its a reaction to government regulation.

 

Obamas new limo weighs (reportedly) over 10,000 pounds.

 

No, I don't smoke. but I do drink!

My point was, if the 'innovators' in everywhere but the US could get 400HP and 30+mpg they wouldn't be driving **** box 4 bangers. Its physics!

So those thinking some law will allow 3000 lb trucks to get 30+ mpg are the ones smoking something. To hit those regs, you'll need .... **** box 4 bangers! So someone else decides what you drive.

btw, The first car (worldwide) to have ABS fitted as standard (across the entire range) was the Ford Granada Mk 3 (of 1985).

 

Physics/Physical Chemistry say that you could basically drive a car or truck to the moon on the energy in one gallon of gasoline, if the energy 100% efficiently converted from potential (in the bonds between the atoms of octane molecules) energy to kinetic energy (at the wheels). Right now there are literally hundreds of opportunities, in the energy balance between combustion engine and rear tire patch, to improve MPG.

 

Physics 101: Most internal combustion engines waste about 36% of the energy in gasoline as heat lost to the cooling system and another 38% through the exhaust. The rest, about 6%, is lost to friction. And that is just ENGINE efficiency. More is lost in the drive train, tires, etc.

So, no, 100% efficiency is actually NOT possible. And we don't live on the moon.

 

What does everything have to be a conspiracy? That is what drives me nuts. I make a comment that they have the technology to provide better gas mileage then it all of a sudden you turn it into a conspiracy…

The first personal computers came out in the early 1980’s. Now they are smaller, faster, have more storage, and can do things we never could have imagined. Cell phones came out around the same time and now almost every American has one, sometimes many, are smaller and they act like little personal computers. We can perform miracle medical surgeries to save people live.

Yet you want me to believe that the technology doesn’t exist to provide better gas mileage than what we have been dealing with for the past 40 years?? Give me a break. /sigh

 

This was like when Bill gates made the comment that if GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that get 1,000 to the gallon. The tech is there but they just dont seem interested in using it.

 

I think they can do it
with a little push ..a push it seems they need

One year ago they were talking about a diesel for the F150 and when the oil price fell they shelved it ?? and why a 4.4 L V8 why not a -6 like yetti96 mentions assuming he means strait 6.

Its all BS politics anyway
Have a nice day

 

Interesting comparison. The computer industry innovation was drive NOT AT ALL by government regulation - which is the point I'm trying to prove. Its driven COMPLETE by the market! I GUARANTEE you that if someone could product a 4000lb vehicle that could product 400 hp and get 30mpg THEY WOULD BE DOING IT. The fact you think they can do it and are not means you think there is a conspiracy.

 

I dont quite work like that though. These trucks have a price point they have to sell at and a petrol engine a very cheap way for these companys to make money. They could put a electric motor in each wheel and a battery the size of the engine under the hood and they would have a unreal truck with some crazy TQ and MPG figures with unreal performance. It would without doubt sell but they wont fit it into the trucks because it would make them less money than putting a engine into a truck. Once these system start going into vehicles the cost will drop by massive amounts just like electronics do over time and they will be making as much money from the electric setups as they were from engine setups. They just need to invest more money so that they can get these options in the trucks. They just want to carry on taking the easy route of gas engines because it makes them so much money.

 

So because someone hasn’t created one yet, the technology doesn’t exist? You truly believe this nonsense? Last weekend I watch a show where students from several colleges participated in a competition where they created vehicles which drove themselves on a track with others vehicles. They had to follow the road, obey street signs, avoid hitting other cars, park, etc. It was really cool to watch.

Now is we can do that, we have the technology to make truck a lot more fuel efficient. That is what I believe. Trucks that give 30+ mph isn’t a huge leap from where we are now which is the high teens to low 20’s. And please get off this conspiracy theory kick. The only one who keeps bring it up is you.

 

I can't agree with this, because the market says the opposite. Hybrids do NOT outsell non-Hybrids. And the best selling vehicle is the F-150, not any of the MANY vehicles that get much better mpg. And I will bet you right now that the F-150 will again be the best selling vehicle in 2009. While mpg is desirable, it clearly isn't THE factor that drives buying habits.


Guys, I think this thread has gotten out of hand. Sure, we'd all love it if trucks got more efficient. And they will, the 2009 SFE is a V8 that is as efficient as the previous gen V6. But I think to expect the same size and weight vehicle to achieve a 50% increase in mpg in just a few years is unrealistic.

And more to the point, mandating it via laws isn't going to make it happen - people buying it or not buying it will. THAT is the main point I'm trying to make.