Driving Change
How efficient is the typical internal combustion engine? Not very. According to the Department of Energy, only about 15 percent of the gas you burn actually moves the car and runs accessories like radio and AC. The rest is wasted. The diagram above shows where the most energy loss occurs. At fueleconomy.gov, the diagram is explained in greater detail. The good news is that there are numerous market-ready technologies -- things like continuously variable transmissions and integrated starter systems -- that go a long way to reducing the waste, while saving you money at the pump. Smart automakers are already offering these technologies in their new models. To find out which cars and trucks get the best (and worst) fuel economy by class, go here.
For more, visit the Sierra Club's Clean Car Campaign. And remember: It is within Congress's power to increase efficiency standards for cars and trucks. The technology is there. We just need the exercise the good sense and political will to implement it.
1 Comments:
I have seen that diagram before, and although it is not entirely correct, it is essentially true that the ordinary car is only about 15 to 20% efficient.
I don't think Congress can, much less will, be able to make much difference by mandating CAFE standards. What I have seen is something like a 20% increase over ten years. It should be raised to at least 30 MPG in 5 years and 40 MPG in 10 years. I think the market economy will boost overall fuel economy before then, when gas prices top $5 per gallon and possibly reach $10.
What could be done by Congress is to add a tax of at least $1 per gallon, and then rebate some of that back to every taxpayer. I spent about $800 last year on 350 gallons of gasoline, and I have a car that gets almost 40 MPG. So, suppose there were a $1/gallon additional tax, but a $350 rebate at tax time. I would not see any difference in my fuel costs, but those who drive gas guzzlers on long daily commutes would feel a healthy pinch. Maybe they would buy an economy car or join a car pool, and make the roads safer. And use their excess tax revenues to fund alternative fuel and EV research. It may be easier to pass a simple tax penalty/reward than a complex CAFE standard that will involve testing, exemptions, and other hassles, and it will take years to implement. A tax can be enacted immediately, and then the consumer can make adjustments to become more fuel-efficient.
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