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by With all of the recent talk of rising gas prices, alternative fuels, and protecting the environment, you'd think that auto makers would be scaling down their gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs. Well, you'd be wrong. At recent auto shows, manufacturers are displaying their next generation trucks and SUVs that go faster, have more horsepower, and burn more gas than ever before. All of the big names in trucks and SUVs like Ford, GM, and Chrystler are adding muscle to their vehicles. But it's not just the big names that are typically associated with muscle who are pumping up their engines. Jeep, Volvo, and Land Rover are all following suit. So if you need to climb a mountain, explore off-road, and go 0 to 60 in less than 5 seconds, you may be in luck!
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This was reported today: http://money.cnn.com/2005/03/30/news/fortune500/gm_fuelcell.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes. It looks like momentum is picking up for alternative fuels.
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But What About the Spinners? by VnutZ :: NR8 :: on 26 March 2005
There are some circles that show increased power can improve gas mileage ... if and only if the driver continues to drive the same as before without taking advantage of the additional power. For instance, a Jeep Wrangler with an upgraded engine will be able to handle itself under road conditions without as much energy as before. This all goes for naught, of course, because people with Wranglers will use that extra power to climb a bigger hill. Same with sports cars - the increased power just makes the driver burn that much more going faster, etc.
It really all depends on where that power came from. Improvements to the engine? Better combustion timing, fuel / air ratios, etc? That can mean more fuel economy. More cylinders to burn more? Well ... yeah, that just fucks everything up for more VROOM VROOM. More horsepower means bigger spinners.
RE: But What About the Spinners? by markmcb :: NR7 :: on 26 March 2005
Good point. I read up on my Ford Explorer V8 and it actually gets better milage than the V6 on the highway. But it's like you said... when the engine is bigger, it makes you want to push the gas pedal so much more.
RE: But What About the Spinners? by jmarkdavison :: NR6 :: on 29 March 2005
On my post, there is a green Ford Aerostar van with spinners.
What about hybrids? Toyota will have a V6 hybrid Highlander that can get 41 miles to the gallon. I know Ford has one coming out as well.
Hybrids are a temporary fix- the future is alternative energy sources. Nuclear, for one: soon Marty McFly's plutonium-powered DeLorean won't seem so sci-fi. If I was an investor, I'd put my money in nuclear power...
RE: But What About the Spinners? by markmcb :: NR7 :: on 29 March 2005
If I was an investor, I'd put my money in nuclear power...
I'll cite one of the sources I posted in "The Economics of Oil." Go to this site: http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/ and scroll down to (or do a text search for) "What About Nuclear Energy?" There are a few links that suggest nuclear power could never hope to replace oil due to lack of resources, costs to implement nulear solutions, and global demand.