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The article mentions that the 55mph speed limit was pushed by the Federal Government during the 1973 oil crisis to reduce gas consumption... ...but doesn't tak

The article mentions that the 55mph speed limit was pushed by the Federal Government during the 1973 oil crisis to reduce gas consumption... ...but doesn't take the next step to point out that in our era of reducing climate emissions it might make sense to drive a little slower if you're not in a hurry to get there. Owning an electric car makes it very obvious how much smaller your range is when you drive 70-75mph than it is when you drive 50-55mph. I'm sure people will respond to point out that these kinds of individual choices about behavior are noise in the fight against climate change. But maybe you're arguing for a renewed 55mph speed limit, then?

bluGill 7y ago
Driving slow in the left lane is a problem. Driving slow in the right lane doesn't seem to be a bit problem. Germany has sections of the autobahn with very large speed variances, but they are aggressive about enforcing the slower traffic keep right rules so fatalities low.
vonmoltke 7y ago
> Owning an electric car makes it very obvious how much smaller your range is when you drive 70-75mph than it is when you drive 50-55mph. I got optimal fuel consumption in my Acura CL at an average speed of about 65 MPH. That maximal efficiency point varies from vehicle to vehicle, particularly across different vehicle classes.
- thinkling 7y ago
  I've heard that idea for a long time and have wondered about it: drag (air resistance) is dependent on the square of the velocity and in highway cruising where you're not accelerating, overcoming drag is a huge part of energy expended. How can the engine be tuned to be so inefficient at lower speeds that it somehow gets better fuel efficiency at higher speeds? And if that was ever a thing with older engines, is it still a thing with modern fuel-injected engines that sense performance and adjust fuel injection to optimize?

bluGill 7y ago

Driving slow in the left lane is a problem. Driving slow in the right lane doesn't seem to be a bit problem. Germany has sections of the autobahn with very large speed variances, but they are aggressive about enforcing the slower traffic keep right rules so fatalities low.

vonmoltke 7y ago

> Owning an electric car makes it very obvious how much smaller your range is when you drive 70-75mph than it is when you drive 50-55mph. I got optimal fuel consumption in my Acura CL at an average speed of about 65 MPH. That maximal efficiency point varies from vehicle to vehicle, particularly across different vehicle classes.

thinkling 7y ago
I've heard that idea for a long time and have wondered about it: drag (air resistance) is dependent on the square of the velocity and in highway cruising where you're not accelerating, overcoming drag is a huge part of energy expended. How can the engine be tuned to be so inefficient at lower speeds that it somehow gets better fuel efficiency at higher speeds? And if that was ever a thing with older engines, is it still a thing with modern fuel-injected engines that sense performance and adjust fuel injection to optimize?