Reply #7: Ah! not so. [View All]

Hybrids and electrics only save on fuel in city driving. My Nissan Sentra gets better mileage on the freeway than a Prius or any other hybrid. By improving the efficiency of all internal combustion engines as much can be done as introducing a host of hybrids and it can be done short term. Long term we will need to switch to electric, probably serial hybrids, because of the 0 rpm torque of electric motors--that's a whole 'nother post.

Ford will introduce a V6 Mustang rated at 300 HP that the EPA has rated at 30 MPG. Okay, if 300 hp can do that what can 200 do? Or 125 in a compact car?

Yeah, all that other stuff is great for the year 2070 (and we'll get there) but meantime using the existing infrastructure with existing technology to maximize efficiency makes sense.

Now, if they just roll "light trucks" into the CAFE standards we'll see a hell of a decrease in fuel usage.

I'll never understand why a full sized V8 powered pickup truck gets the same fuel mileage as a compact 4 cylinder. Makes no sense.