Solutions to the Pollution problem

[veryHeavy]

Originally Posted By: turtlevette
Most of these discussions go:
Rednecks - eliminate the epa, let's go back to dumping poisons on the ground
Moonbats - everyone should drive a Prius

Realist - forget hybrids that cost $2500 to replace the battery (or Tesla EVs that cost $30,000 to replace the battery). Small standard cars are the way to go... like the Europeans do. They've had 40-to-60 U.S. mpg-equivalent cars for decades, because most of their cars are 3 or 4 cylinders. They even have one that is just 2 cylinders!

Also slower speed limits that reduce air drag & increase MPG. I would keep the speed at 70 in the "great empty" part of the country, but reduced to 45 in zones that the EPA designates "non-attainment zones"... like California's coastline. Slower speeds == less energy burned == less smog.

Diesel. It not only gets higher MPG... it also burns fewer BTU/mile, so it's far more efficient. And with modern urea-based systems (DEF) the diesels are as clean as the gasoline cars. Greenercars.org rates the Chevy Cruze TD equal to a gasoline Civic.

 

[JC1]

The big three don't want to depend on small car sales to survive and the masses would prefer a gas guzzler to drive. If fuel someday reaches $5 USD per gallon then maybe small cars will be a larger portion of auto sales.

 

[veryHeavy]

In Europe... or at least the UK... they charge a "CO tax" on large vehicles. If it's less than 100 grams/mile than you pay nothing (like a Prius or Civic Hybrid). If it's between 100-200 g/m then you pay $1000 extra. If it's between 200-300 g/m then you pay $2000 extra...... and so on.

NOTE: I don't know the actual tax rate, but the point is: It discourages the purchase of gas guzzling SUVs or large sedans.

 

[bioburner]

America changed habits when gas went over $4
You have a couple billion cooking and heating with poorly burnt fuels. Rocket stove developed. Still stripping the forests.
India started putting efi on motorcycles with a retrofit.

 

[Merkava_4]

I think we should eliminate the EPA and let the states regulate emissions.

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
I think we should eliminate the EPA and let the states regulate emissions.

And then not be able to see blue sky like in China. You would change your tune when it was too late. Fortunately your dream won't come true.

 

[pandus13]

Originally Posted By: veryHeavy
In Europe... or at least the UK... they charge a "CO tax" on large vehicles. If it's less than 100 grams/mile than you pay nothing (like a Prius or Civic Hybrid). If it's between 100-200 g/m then you pay $1000 extra. If it's between 200-300 g/m then you pay $2000 extra...... and so on.

NOTE: I don't know the actual tax rate, but the point is: It discourages the purchase of gas guzzling SUVs or large sedans.


Europe also:
had a small tax called high gas prices/ liter. (not cheap to feed a guzzling.....)
and not a lot of parking spaces
and small towns
and public transportation networks
and i could go on.

you are comparing two different worlds.

good luck getting US/Canada to follow....

most of small car producers are not really money earners...

good luck getting EPA to do R&D on this topic. (safe small car development)

did you notice most of the cars from 30-40 years ago are at least a class bigger and heavier?

there is still some small stuff called:
-local markets/conditions
-incentives for producers
-incentives for consumers

and it seems Europe might just leave the diesel trail because of the big cities pollution....

P.S. Who are you?
You've been here before...

 

[Revving2Redline]

Bring back the Honda CRX HF. Way better looking and funner to drive than some hippy electric car and use can still put parts on it and tune it.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: Al
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
I think we should eliminate the EPA and let the states regulate emissions.

And then not be able to see blue sky like in China. You would change your tune when it was too late. Fortunately your dream won't come true.
Always predicting gloom and doom are ya?

 

[Andrew1972]

What pollution problem you trying to solve out there? They don't make electric cars to reduce pollution......

 

[bluestream]

Small cars = Small Profits

 

[zzyzzx]

Solutions to the Pollution problem

It's easy, make birth control mandatory.

 

[carviewsonic]

The world's demand for oil grows steadily, and at some point in the probably not too distant future, supply will tighten and cost/barrel will rapidly increase. Then, consumers will be place a much higher priority on fuel economy than they do now. Higher CAFE requirements and other forms of government regulation are mostly ineffective, IMO. Most consumers (including myself) will continue to buy vehicles that are bigger and heavier than they really need, until some day in the future when the cost of fuel becomes much more of a priority than it is now.

 

[simple_gifts]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Originally Posted By: Al
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
I think we should eliminate the EPA and let the states regulate emissions.

And then not be able to see blue sky like in China. You would change your tune when it was too late. Fortunately your dream won't come true.
Always predicting gloom and doom are ya?


You only need to look back; no prediction is necessary.