Comments on: US passes new fuel consumption standards

By: Jannik

Jannik — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 10:58:50 +0000

Dear All,

Most of the cars running in Denmark, where i live, are ECO cars. My italian (gasoline powered) Fiat is running at a 6.5 l/100 under varying conditions. At constant highway speeds it runs an easy 5.5 L/100. We do have diesels running at 3.3 in average conditions, but those are superminis. Among the larger cars, most diesels are running a roadtestet average of 5 to 7 L/100. And power and torque isn’t missing. So get in the game!

By: Cobra045

Cobra045 — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:04:40 +0000

yes but the US now has a “Gas Guzzler Tax” on new cars which use more than a specified fuel consumption to try aned discourage people from buying fuel hungry V8′s. And it is apparently working now, but may be a long time before it takes any great effect. The US makes cars cheaply and in volume, therefore cars are pretty much disposable, which could go some way to explain why the quality is so crap. That quality issue wont help cars like the H3, when trying to build a reputation for reliability when it has just never been there with US car makers.

By: Lazybones

Lazybones — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:41:11 +0000

“much electricty that is filling our grid is curently coming from renewables?”

Good one Andy, we should all be thinking about ticking the 100% Renewable box. My problem is complicated. I love cars, I love driving, but I care about the environment.

I think the problem with the car/environment thing is down to the biggest cars manufactures until very recently were US Based. The US has a very different policy to fuel consumption to Europe. According to Discovery Channels “Addicted to oil” doco, the average US Car has worse fuel consumption now than in previous years.

By: Cruiser

Cruiser — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 23:37:21 +0000

This is a good movement… 6.7L per 100km will be achievably, in 10 years they have gone from like 13L to 10L per 100km in your avg family 6, they have 12 years to do this… more than likely it will encourage hybrid engines, so its not the death of the internal combustion engine, more the re-invention of it.

By: No Name

No Name — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:06:51 +0000

Andrew m. You partly right. nearly all my light bulbs are low energy. Just wish the figgin kids would switch them off!!

How many cars would be off the road if we drove smaller cc cars instaed of the gas guzzlers. London will be inncreasing the congestion charge for vehicle over 225co2/km. BMW have re-engineerd the X5 3.0 diesel to reduce it below this figure specifically for the UK market. Its being rolled out world wide. Good Stuff.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:35:11 +0000

lazy bones,
yes and as it stands how much electricty that is filling our grid is curently coming from renewables?

i was trying to put into perspective how we always blame cars for the emissions yet a simple scabby old light bulb each can easily offset a hell of a lot of cars if people really cared.
when it comes to greening the planet i find people are hypocrites.

By: Lazybones

Lazybones — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 23:00:26 +0000

“Could gearing and aerodynamics have influenced Commodore’s better result, Lazybones?”

Dunno what the drag coefficients of current & previous models are to comment on that. But just looking at it, I doubt the VE would be lower. I’d agree Gear ratio’s would have a limited effect. IE better fuel during cruise maybe. But overall the golden rule is weight. An extra 120kgs is a significant addition to be carrying around, thats almost 2 adults.

“The petrol is actually the same, they just use AKI (anti knock index) ratings, whereas here we use RON (Research Octane Number)”

Cheers Andrew, that is handy to know. Bizare to think they would use a different system to RON. But thats the US for you. Imp Gallon/US Gallon to name another.

“if everyone changed 1 light bulb to a fluro apparently that equates to taking 49,000 cars off the road each year”

Sounds highly optimistic, keep in mind anything electrical can be sourced from 100 renewables. As it stands we can’t do that with cars.

By: Guy UK Boy

Guy UK Boy — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 21:31:45 +0000

Obviously a big topic change the light bulbs, buy the A rated fridge and sorry to say it drive less but enjoy the driving you do.

Hey just watched Top Gear thrashing the new M3 versus the new C Class AMG 6.3. and the Audi RS4. Loved it big motors screaming. Clarkson wore the AMG tyres out in 35miles. Ace
Watch out for it on You Tube. M3 ace but AMG the Hooligan.
Not good for the enviroment but good viewing.

By: Bavarian Missile

Bavarian Missile — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 03:25:03 +0000

Yeah.AndrewM/Jumbo.hahaha and we should all stop drinking milk and eating Beef too.That would cull the cows and stop them passing wind ………

Its a bit like the China lead argument at the moment,sure we should worry about our kids playing with lead laced toys but what about the rest of the things we use that also would contain lead ?? Think about that the next time you put a toothbrush in your mouth,especially if its RED!!

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 01:41:45 +0000

well they just released concearns the other day for all the people that go out and buy plasmas etc because they arent too crash hot for the environment either.

ah but yes every one just sit back and watch the news on your plasma believing if we all drive a small hatch the world will be safe.
also if everyone changed 1 light bulb to a fluro apparently that equates to taking 49,000 cars off the road each year.

ah but yes everyone pick on the auto industry believing we will save the world by all driving small hatches