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Here is an opposite viewpoint: What if increasing government requirements are just not achievable? The laws are written by politicians, not engineers. If car c

by com2kid 11y ago

Here is an opposite viewpoint: What if increasing government requirements are just not achievable? The laws are written by politicians, not engineers. If car companies are being asked to meet unreasonable performance metrics, what other choice do they have? Cars have gotten a lot more efficient, I can get a 1.5L engine that puts out over 150hp. A 2L 4 cylinder engine can put out over 200hp! These are huge savings compared to what used to just a decade ago, but they are still apparently not good enough to meet government requirements. I understand that part of VW's cheating was a cost saving measure, but with all the talk about every car manufacturer doing it, one has to one, if 10 different people all independently come up with the same solution, maybe there is a problem?

vitd 11y ago
Don't there already exist several brands and models of cars that meet the standards these companies say they can't possibly meet? (I mean the Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius, and Tesla models probably meet emissions standards, right?) It seems more likely that all these companies found it more cost effective to cheat than to innovate than that it isn't possible to innovate.
- com2kid 11y ago
  > (I mean the Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius, and Tesla models probably meet emissions standards, right?) Sure, and those are great for people who can afford the 10K-30K premium in price. (Though the Prius does now have a lower priced option, one that may not be appropriate for many families)
csours 11y ago
Disclosure: I work for GM. All of the regulations CAN be met... but it is increasingly difficult to meet emissions, MPG, and Safety regulations, AND satisfy customers. Safety equipment increases weight, which lowers MPG. More efficient engines are generally smaller and less powerful, which does not satisfy customers. In the VW case, reducing NO2 emissions lowered MPG due to the burn-off process. One change to the fuel economy law that is sorely needed is changing the standard from MPG to Gallons per Hundred Miles. Differences between GPHM measurements are easier to understand [1]. 1. http://billso.com/2008/06/21/gpm/ http://billso.com/2008/06/21/gpm/ - See chart
- com2kid 11y ago
  > More efficient engines are generally smaller and less powerful, which does not satisfy customers. They are also less safe for freeway driving. On a recent vacation, I recently visited Albuquerque NM, driving around there requires a fast powerful engine to get up to speed ASAP, or accidents will happen. In comparison, when I visited Boston, I rented a Fiat 500 and loved it, it was perfect for zipping around a those old narrow winding city roads, in and out of traffic, and finding parking. Heck I didn't pay for parking in Boston once while I was there! Freeway driving is the norm for most of America though. A tiny engine won't due, it will however get someone ran over.

by com2kid 11y ago

vitd 11y ago

Don't there already exist several brands and models of cars that meet the standards these companies say they can't possibly meet? (I mean the Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius, and Tesla models probably meet emissions standards, right?) It seems more likely that all these companies found it more cost effective to cheat than to innovate than that it isn't possible to innovate.

com2kid 11y ago
> (I mean the Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius, and Tesla models probably meet emissions standards, right?) Sure, and those are great for people who can afford the 10K-30K premium in price. (Though the Prius does now have a lower priced option, one that may not be appropriate for many families)

csours 11y ago

Disclosure: I work for GM. All of the regulations CAN be met... but it is increasingly difficult to meet emissions, MPG, and Safety regulations, AND satisfy customers. Safety equipment increases weight, which lowers MPG. More efficient engines are generally smaller and less powerful, which does not satisfy customers. In the VW case, reducing NO2 emissions lowered MPG due to the burn-off process. One change to the fuel economy law that is sorely needed is changing the standard from MPG to Gallons per Hundred Miles. Differences between GPHM measurements are easier to understand [1]. 1. http://billso.com/2008/06/21/gpm/ http://billso.com/2008/06/21/gpm/ - See chart

com2kid 11y ago
> More efficient engines are generally smaller and less powerful, which does not satisfy customers. They are also less safe for freeway driving. On a recent vacation, I recently visited Albuquerque NM, driving around there requires a fast powerful engine to get up to speed ASAP, or accidents will happen. In comparison, when I visited Boston, I rented a Fiat 500 and loved it, it was perfect for zipping around a those old narrow winding city roads, in and out of traffic, and finding parking. Heck I didn't pay for parking in Boston once while I was there! Freeway driving is the norm for most of America though. A tiny engine won't due, it will however get someone ran over.