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http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_04_23.html http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites

by jonknee 11y ago

http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_04_23.html http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/pub... Since 1980 we've gotten about 50% better mileage over all. Considering the number of cars is greater today the real effect of gas saved is even more.

gertef 11y ago
Is that due to CAFE or due to consumer preference for fuel-efficient cars within a class? Since MPGS are heavily touted in advertising, it seems to be related to consumer preference
stickfigure 11y ago
I was hoping for evidence of causation, not correlation :-/
- jonknee 11y ago
  Law passes requiring improved mileage or fines. Auto makers followed by increased mileage and avoided fines. It's pretty simple.
  - stickfigure 11y ago
    Alternative narrative: Customer demand shifted to cars with higher mileage. Auto makers stopped resisting higher CAFE standards because the minor increment was meaningless. See also: The ongoing debate over minimum wage laws and unemployment. Inferring causation from correlation is not "pretty simple", but a lot of poor decisions are made under that assumption.
    - tw04 11y ago
      I can tell you for a fact that at least on large diesel truck forums when gas/diesel hit $4/gallon the number of used trucks being posted for sale was staggering. The number of people who couldn't afford to fill their trucks up and still make a payment was almost comical.
ArkyBeagle 11y ago
I'd credit most of that improvement on electronic engine control, and that really kind of had to evolve somewhat after 1980. You could see good improvement in cars from that time frame just by replacing the coil system with an SCR based ignition. It's also difficult to explain how brittle a 1980 car's fuel handling system was. Now, having both controlled by the same computer leads to much improvement.

by jonknee 11y ago

gertef 11y ago

Is that due to CAFE or due to consumer preference for fuel-efficient cars within a class? Since MPGS are heavily touted in advertising, it seems to be related to consumer preference

stickfigure 11y ago

I was hoping for evidence of causation, not correlation :-/

jonknee 11y ago
Law passes requiring improved mileage or fines. Auto makers followed by increased mileage and avoided fines. It's pretty simple.
- stickfigure 11y ago
  Alternative narrative: Customer demand shifted to cars with higher mileage. Auto makers stopped resisting higher CAFE standards because the minor increment was meaningless. See also: The ongoing debate over minimum wage laws and unemployment. Inferring causation from correlation is not "pretty simple", but a lot of poor decisions are made under that assumption.
  - tw04 11y ago
    I can tell you for a fact that at least on large diesel truck forums when gas/diesel hit $4/gallon the number of used trucks being posted for sale was staggering. The number of people who couldn't afford to fill their trucks up and still make a payment was almost comical.

ArkyBeagle 11y ago

I'd credit most of that improvement on electronic engine control, and that really kind of had to evolve somewhat after 1980. You could see good improvement in cars from that time frame just by replacing the coil system with an SCR based ignition. It's also difficult to explain how brittle a 1980 car's fuel handling system was. Now, having both controlled by the same computer leads to much improvement.