300 MPG Car Is Not Allowed In America Because It’s Too Efficient

[angelo]

This is a common misconception. The injury rates for people in an SUV and a compact car are not very different. The feeling of safety which one gets from riding higher in a larger vehicle is an illusion., It is the kind of illusion which is quickly dispelled when the thing turns sideways and the high center of gravity allows it to roll three or four times before coming to a stop.

Deadly right. Many people are under the illusion of being safer in a SUV than a smaller car and often drive that way.

 

[Underseer]

When I read the thread title, I immediately suspected this whole thing was a hoax. My apologies if someone else already cited Snopes on this one:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/conspiracy/xl1.asp

Probably should've read the entire thread before posting, but I'm so impatient.

There is an entire category of urban legend related to fantastical MPG claims. It almost deserves its own web site.

 

[angelo]

When I read the thread title, I immediately suspected this whole thing was a hoax. My apologies if someone else already cited Snopes on this one:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/conspiracy/xl1.asp

Probably should've read the entire thread before posting, but I'm so impatient.

There is an entire category of urban legend related to fantastical MPG claims. It almost deserves its own web site.

Or the perpetual engine, or a car that runs on water which was snubbed out by the big oil companies. There's conspiracy theories galore, sometime I read them to get a giggle.

 

[dockeen]

There used to be a popular whisper that there was a cure for cancer, but because it would wipe out research dollars and big pharma profits, it was suppressed too.

 

[angelo]

It's amazing what otherwise intelligent people believe. It's as if they have a switch they turn on an off to believe the incredulous.

 

[Bronzeage]

It's amazing what otherwise intelligent people believe. It's as if they have a switch they turn on an off to believe the incredulous.

Stories like the cure for cancer and the 300mpg car survive because they satisfy a need in people.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Stories like the cure for cancer and the 300mpg car survive because they satisfy a need in people.

It's easier to believe that there is a perfect solution (offers safety and control), but that is being held back (lets us be angry at someone and feel self-righteous ourselves), than we are limited by reality and science.

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

It's easier to believe that there is a perfect solution (offers safety and control), but that is being held back (lets us be angry at someone and feel self-righteous ourselves), than we are limited by reality and science.

I knew that salvation via obedience to the divine would eventually make its way into this thread.

And I like my Fit too. When the second Explorer was getting on in years we bought a CRV. No regrets yet and much better mileage all around, though not as rugged.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

I knew that salvation via obedience to the divine would eventually make its way into this thread.

And I like my Fit too. When the second Explorer was getting on in years we bought a CRV. No regrets yet and much better mileage all around, though not as rugged.

I meant self-righteous as in, demonizing a made up enemy to make ourselves feel better. Kind of like conservatives and "Obama". Not the, I think it ethical to use less gasoline argument. I fully stand behind that.

 

[AthenaAwakened]

The answer to the fuel use efficiency problem will not be found in every individual on the planet driving everywhere they need to go in their own individual 300mpg vehicles, but in better mass transportation.

This ain't deep people.

 

[SimpleDon]

I buy gas for my Chevrolet Volt on average once every three to five months. Of course, my electric bill has gone up very nearly $11 a month.

VW does make a production car that has has been available in Europe since the mid-2000s that gets 65+ mpg (of diesel). They don't believe there's a market in the US and they're probably right. IIRC it's only available with a stick.

I have tried to convince my wife to get a Leaf all elect car for her to drive to work. We have my handicapped van that we take on any trips that we go on. Her office parking lot has a Nissan Leaf charging station where she can charge the car for free. The station was provided by Nissan and the electrical power is provided by her employer. She works only three miles from our home, a gas fueled car isn't even warmed up by then. She does make the round trip twice a day, she comes home for lunch.

Here in Atlanta we can lease a Nissan Leaf for less than a $100 a month because of the state subsidy for electric cars. This is about the cost of the insurance.

 

[Bronzeage]

I have tried to convince my wife to get a Leaf all elect car for her to drive to work. We have my handicapped van that we take on any trips that we go on. Her office parking lot has a Nissan Leaf charging station where she can charge the car for free. The station was provided by Nissan and the electrical power is provided by her employer. She works only three miles from our home, a gas fueled car isn't even warmed up by then. She does make the round trip twice a day, she comes home for lunch.

Here in Atlanta we can lease a Nissan Leaf for less than a $100 a month because of the state subsidy for electric cars. This is about the cost of the insurance.

Your wife's weekly mileage would be about 60 miles, broken into 20 three mile trips. The most fuel efficient vehicle in the world cannot get more than 5 to 10 miles a gallon in the first minute of operation. This assumes it is moving. A three mile trip would result in a very low average fuel mileage, probably never higher than 12 mpg. The bright side of this is she uses only 5 gallons a week. At current prices, this is $68 a month for fuel.

 

[arkirk]

In view of Derec 'shuddering to think what else I've owned' in response to my statement of satisfaction with the efficiency and durability of my large van, I am perhaps one of the few other Americans in this thread that has had extensive experience with the BMC 948-1275 series of engines, as a former owner of '59 & '61 'Bug Eye' Sprites as well as a 1974 MG Midget as my daily driver commuter vehicles for years.
(the point being, I am actually very familiar with such very small and economical vehicles -and their inherent limitations, as that is what I by personal choice lived with for years)
I really enjoyed driving my BMC toys, but on a dollar-per-mile basis, comparing all the costs of ownership, over the long haul, I'd guess one of my big old vans would prove to be at least 6x more durable, trouble free, and less expensive, as well as being far and away more practical in everyday use. How many MG's do you think ever exceeded 500k miles? None of mine made it to 100.

ETA. And speaking of shuddering ....one has to personally experience the 'thrill' of driving a 43hp 30" high 'automobile' on a up-grade _peddle to the metal, with a semi traveling 70+ closing the gap by the second. Thrilling hardly describes it.
Been there done that (way too many times), no more.

Actually, I went camping and vacationing in the Morris. Ours would go 80 and outrun VW's. It was a silly looking car but was quite reliable engine and brake wise. It did have one shortcoming...the ignition system was not very resistant to wet weather. That seems odd when the car came from England. The interior appointments were Spartan, but it got lots of miles out of very little gas. Admittedly, it was not a heavy duty vehicle, but it we got a lot of service out of it without a lot of repairs. We chose it over the Sprite because of the weird bonnet and the Morris did actually have a trunk.

I understand what you are saying about durability of small cars especially English ones. I didn't have much trouble with hills. Far worse was a 1973 Toyota pickup with an automatic transmission, you would be tempted going up steep hills to open the door and help with your foot. I never had that problem with the Morris and it was extremely maneuverable.

 

[angelo]

You wouldn't want to put any English made car up against a Toyota made anywhere in the world for durability today. As far as I know the Toyota Prius is by far the biggest seller of hybrid cars with an estimated 4-5 litres per 100Km.
As far as pure electric cars, the Tesla is streets ahead of anyone else, but you pay for that privilege.

 

[travc]

You wouldn't want to put any English made car up against a Toyota made anywhere in the world for durability today. As far as I know the Toyota Prius is by far the biggest seller of hybrid cars with an estimated 4-5 litres per 100Km.
As far as pure electric cars, the Tesla is streets ahead of anyone else, but you pay for that privilege.

The Prius has gotten pretty damn good. It has been around quite a while actually.

As for the Tesla, yeah, nice. But I'd put the Nissan Leaf in the same 'generation'. Basically, it is pretty close what you'd expect if Tesla made an 'every man' compact-ish car. I'm only going off of reviews since I've never driven either, though I did park next to a Tesla S yesterday and normally walk by at least one (or more) Leaf in the parking lot at work.

 

[angelo]

The Leaf looks like a "Nissan". Boring as shite. At least the Tesla looks absolutely great with an Italian sports car look. I realise the Leaf costs a fraction what the Tesla does. I think I wouldn't go past a Prius if I was looking for a hybrid.
What I like that's a traditional motor car is a Mazda 3 with a 2 litre engine and a six speed auto that's getting around 6.5 litre per 100 Km and looks outstanding.

 

[dockeen]

Maybe I am weird in my tastes, but I find the Honda CR-Z by hybrid attractive. My wife and son though say "Two seated, can't have it, won't carry all of us"

 

[angelo]

That reminds me. Mazda is going to use Toyota tech to produce it's own hybrid car. It's actually going to share the technology. Better than spending millions on it's own research when Toyota already has the best there is.

 

[dockeen]

That reminds me. Mazda is going to use Toyota tech to produce it's own hybrid car. It's actually going to share the technology. Better than spending millions on it's own research when Toyota already has the best there is.

And, again, as I recall, even at the Prius (not cheap) price, they don't make much money with it.

Note that Mazda used to do quite a bit of joint production with Ford.

 

[Sheshbazzar]

My Sprite's and Midget were pure joy to drive when I and wifey had the roads to ourselves.
I commuted 60 miles daily to my job at Oldsmobile, rain or shine, summer and winter, even through Michigan's snow and ice, and they never once let me down. Of course the tin worms soon consumed them (...except the one I installed a BOP 215 V-8 and Muncie 4 speed in )

May even buy another now that the kids are grown and gone. Not for use in urban traffic or on expressways though. Don't care at all for any of the newer 'civilized' sports cars.