2007-12-18 03:25:36 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment ➔ Alternative Fuel Vehicles
There's a limit to how far a car can go on 128oz of gas. There's a popular concept that cars should be able to go more than 100 miles but this isn't true.
Are oil companies preventing more fuel efficient cars? Hardly. If this were possible, Greenpeace would have built that car already, unless Greenpeace is a part of the oil conspiracy.
The auto corporations are building all sorts of different fuel powered cars because the market demands it. This is the beauty of Capitalism and the free markets.
2007-12-18 03:40:26 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Jello 7 · 8⤊ 0⤋
I was going to bypass this one, as there were plenty of good answers. Bravo to Jen T, Michael C, Acidman, and Richard O!!!
I have 1 question for Dr. Jello. If "There's a limit to how far a car can go on 128oz of gas. There's a popular concept that cars should be able to go more than 100 miles but this isn't true."
Then how was Volkswagen able to build a car that would go 100 Kilometers on .89 litre of fuel? It was done a few years ago in Europe, so it would stand to reason that 50+ MPG in the United States is within the realm of possibility, right?
Other than that, I agree he has some valid points.
Oh, 1 other thing. Most of the "crunchy granola" folks I have met were not the types of people that were into building cars, fuel efficient or not. Perhaps this could be an alternate reason for Greenpeace not having designed a car?
2007-12-18 21:10:31 · answer #2 · answered by D_Offio 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1) The biggest limiting factor on "fuel efficiency" is the amount of energy that actually exists in a gallon of gas. Gasoline can only deliver some theoretical "maximum" energy per gallon.
2) The second biggest factor is "consumer demand" for how that energy is used. I can make you a car tomorrow that gets 100 miles per gallon - but it will be small, and have a top-speed of about 45 miles an hour, and take about 10 minutes to achieve that speed. You don't want it - it wouldn't sell.
3) I've been told that there is a special Federal Regulation that says car companies must share fuel efficiency technology with each other. Chrysler isn't going to pour a billion dollars into researching a more efficient engine if they have to turn around and share that technology with Ford and GM for nothing.
If it were just a matter of passing "CAFE" standards that mandated it, Congress would do it, and we'd be done.
While Congress is at it, you'd think they'd pass a mandate that Hospitals cure cancer 100% of the time, and that everyone get a 500,000 sq foot mansion to live in.
2007-12-18 12:44:58 · answer #3 · answered by jbtascam 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Cost - primarily affects alternative energy
Safety - higher fuel efficiency means lighter cars, which offer less protection in the event of a crash
Market factors - It has been shown repeatedly that customers prefer larger, more powerful cars.
2007-12-18 16:04:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Engine horsepower will be a limiting factor. For example, I know many people who have SUVs or light trucks, because they actually tow heavy things with them... Things such as camp trailers, ATV trailers, snowmobile trailers, etc, as well as the myriad of light trucks being used by independent contractors around the United States.
They purchase those vehicles because they're needed for aspects of their life...
In contrast, you've got people in cities such as Los Angeles, who purchase big 4x4 trucks, jack them up, put monster tires on them, and then the truck will NEVER see the dirt...
If all a person does is city/highway driving - where the likelihood of inclement weather is low, then a fuel efficient car will be more than sufficient for that person's every day needs. If however, you purchase a truck/SUV, and you actually utilize that vehicles capabilities - be those capabilities off road, hauling, towing, etc - then a small, fuel efficient vehicle won't fit your lifestyle.
2007-12-18 12:22:20 · answer #5 · answered by acidman1968 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A big detraction of alternative energy cars is the lack of infrastructure. For example, it's hard to have a hydrogen powered car when there are no hydrogen filling stations.
2007-12-18 11:46:45 · answer #6 · answered by Michael C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The price of oil. The manufacturers will build what the people want to buy. People should not think of the auto manufacturers as evil. They are trying to make a buck in the free market. It is the buyer that is to blame for a lack of efficiency.
2007-12-18 12:46:48 · answer #7 · answered by Richard the Physicist 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the oil companies will go nuts. many of times we begin to hear about alternative fuels and energy. then they seem to fall by the way side. I really dont know but it seems to me that the profits from petroleum products seem to be supressing all these wonderful ideas or making them so expensive that the average person cant afford them
2007-12-19 09:42:54 · answer #8 · answered by den d 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Oil companies pay a lot of money to keep car makers from making the technology. I personally have seen the specs on an engine (working military concept) that will get roughly 95 MPG on a track type 30 ton tank.
2007-12-18 11:29:48 · answer #9 · answered by Steve is cool 5 · 3⤊ 5⤋
If you create a lot of cars that use ethanol, which is derived from corn, you can bet the price of Doritos will skyrocket!
2007-12-18 11:29:01 · answer #10 · answered by Jen T 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋