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RE: 55mph increases fuel efficiency
Believe me, they take advantage of this in Myrtle Beach; you should see some of the carts they sell. I intend to buy one when I move down there.
Yeah - my parents live in Murrells Inlet (just five or ten miles south of Myrtle Beach on 17). There's a lot of weird stuff down there - to include a taxi cab service using imported British cabs for "the look". Plus you get the annual Bike Week crowd.
The sweet spot is definitely different for different cars - owing to gearing and aerodynamics. I think there is a nexus between an efficient fuel burn and actual engine efficiency. For example, most engines operate best at high RPM (the Jeep achieves maximum horsepower/torque around 5000). This is also why 0-60 runs are done in low gear at high revolutions. While the engine operates best there, it also eats up fuel. But you also get 0mpg by idling at your lowest RPM and not moving. So what we get is this "window of efficiency" where most vehicles work best. In your case, it may be that going slightly faster bears an extra burden of wind resistance, but the higher RPM equates to more horsepower to force through it at an optimal engine setting.
Regardless, though, the sweet spot is not 75mph for SUVs and most other vehicles!!
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55mph increases fuel efficiency
I think this all depends upon the car. My daily commute is a straight line from my house to my office, with only a single stop between for a distance of 22 miles. The speed limit is 45 mph along the road and I use cruise control. I drove this for one week, taking no side trips (unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of the gadgetry that Vnut used in his Jeep.); and I used 9 gallons of gasoline. This is actually more than it takes me for the round trip to pick up my pair of rowdy outdoor loving youngsters in Wilkes-Barre PA--where I average 70-75mph on the road. The distance door to door one way to 147 miles; and a round trip actually only takes 8 gallons. I also use cruise control for most of this trip as well.
I drive a 2005 Classic (Malibu--the Classic was the version released to rental car companies, with the 2003 body style) which according to here should get between 25 and 34mpg. I average about 23.7 during the week going to work and side trips to lakes, rivers, and streams for fishing and getting outdoors and about 31 on the round trip to Wilkes-Barre.
This isn't very scientific, it's only anecdotal, but it certainly looks like my fuel economy is better going to Wilkes-Barre. On that trip, I actually have to go through York, so I spend 25 minutes hopping from stop light to stop light until I hit the interstate.
Commuting is a major problem with regard to fuel use in this country. The lack of decent and available (one system near me is cutting services and raising prices) public transportation, the distances people drive for affodable housing (or just because we happen to like our community). I think this problem needs to be addressed in addition to increasing fuel efficiencies. In another post I cited this article about ethanol where a scientist from Berkely calculates that by doubling fuel efficiency of vehicles would decrease our oil needs by 33%. If we add public transport to the equation, return to the days of using trains for long haul, and trucks for short runs; then I think we could be out of this in a short time. 35MPG is a good start, but I think we can accomplish this by 2010; we don't need 13 years.
Combine all of this and throw in alternative fuel research. It's time we run to the forefront; and cut our energy use, without sacrificing our recreation or our quality of life.
As another note--Vnut I can certainly tow a much larger payload in a Suburban or a Tahoe than I can in a Minivan. And carry as many passengers. But then, I like boating and camping and fishing; so I would like that ability. I don't own an SUV, and certainly wouldn't drive one to work (unless it were like my car and got close to the same or better fuel economy).
Although, for around the town use, why not a Golf Cart during daylight hours? South Carolina law permits use within 2 miles of your home on secondary roads. Believe me, they take advantage of this in Myrtle Beach; you should see some of the carts they sell. I intend to buy one when I move down there.
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