Global warming?

Question

If global warming is caused by auto pollution. Why are we not getting better gas mileage on our cars?
We can send a robot car to mars and drive it by remote control. Send a probe to somewhere else. And we cannot get more than 20 mpg out of a car motor? We can fit a computer chip on the head of a pin but still no better motor. Who's lying to who?

Answer 1

Global warming is PARTLY caused by auto pollution.

We don't get better mileage because the automakers (particularly American automakers) are slow to respond to the increasing demand for more efficient cars.

It's part due to supply and demand (as said by previous poster).
It's partly due to cheap oil and gas and coal.
It's partly due to unethical actions by rich and powerful coal and oil companies.

PS. I have to say to the first poster - the one who thinks that we DON'T have the technology to send a robot to Mars and control it from Earth - where have you been for the last three years? Asleep? In a coma? We HAVE sent robotic rovers to Mars and we DO operate them from Earth.
BTW, they are solar powered.

Answer 2

That's the million dollar question as billions of dollars are being invested by the carbon industries to sell the line that there are both no other alternatives and there too expensive. The message is actually contradictory and a billion dollar lie. (i.e. Commonsense tells you it can't not exist and be too expensive at the same time.) There are plenty of examples around the world that the alternative forms are:
1) Real and operating;
2) Cheaper;
3) Break down the present monopoly of control and ownership of energy sources;
4) Most important of all is that they are eco-friendly and sustainable.

Let's take for example : the 20 mpg for your car motor.

Hybrid fueled cars connected to an electric motor have been developed by Honda and Toyota, halving present gas consumption, while other carbon industries have been talking with their mouth out of gear.

Answer 3

It's a matter of a) supply and demand and b) profits.

If people demanded more fuel efficient vehicles the car dealerships would sell them. This has been demanded in Europe and Asia for a long time where 40mpg is about the norm and the smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles are returning upwards of 60mpg.

Then there's the issue of profits. The oil companies are in a powerful position when it comes to determining policy. Whilst there are improvements and alternatives available it's not in the oil companies interests to see these implemented. It's not unheard of for the corporations to buy the rights to a fuel saving idea so it can be buried.

Answer 4

Unless someone here has experience in engine design and engineering I dont think anyone will be able to give much more than an emotional opinion. I get 40mpg out of my car so I don't believe 20mpg is the limit. In fact I believe any car you buy today has better than that excuding heavy duty trucks.

Answer 5

We do not have the type of technology that we can send a robot car on Mars and control it from earth.But, still their are plans that are under completion to send a mission on mars.We are not able to get good mileage due to bad road conditions,use od A/Cs during travelling and due to low calorific value.