Fuel Economy, Power, Weight trends 1975-present

[Das Borgen]

I came across this and I find it interesting.

 

http://www3.epa.gov/otaq/fetrends.htm

 

 

 

This graph in particular is cool from bullet point 3

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--DN3XdGjf--/bdo3ugvripfs7w9czor5.png

 

It shows that vehicle weights have averaged out to be steady in the past 10 years (high strength steels, aluminum, Carbon Fiber, and other materials help drop weight and let new safety equipment be used for basically a net gain of zero weight?)

[Grudes]

It defintley confirms how terrible a lot of 80's cars were. They sacrificed horsepower for fuel economy.

[o0n8]

Interesting they chose '75 as the starting point. Less power for "better fuel" economy was already happening. Nice round 40 year number? Because Catalytic convertors were mandatory?

 

Started reading the actual report, 1975 was the first year of the "Trends Report"

[Doc1647545523]

Well, 1975 was a major turning point in trends. The OPEC oil embargo was in 1973 (in response to the U.S. support of Israel), and by the time it ended in 1974, oil prices had quadrupled, and we started seeing the first results of American auto makers' serious attempts at making cars with better gas mileage.

 

Those early attempts were pretty pathetic (how do you make a 1973 Olds 98 into an economy car?) and in many cases consisted of lowering the compression of big-blocks, while the EPA was mandating the addition of pollution-control. Anything on the car that could be made lighter, was. This was also the era when GM thought they could take their gas 350 ci V8 and with a little modification, make it into a diesel. :lolguy:

 

It's hard for you young bucks to imagine, but the U.S. had gas rationing in 1973 and 1974.

 

It took a few years for the manufacturers to find ways of significantly improving mileage while giving customers cars they wanted. Engine technology got better, cars got lighter, mileage went up, and ultimately quality improved.

 

I'm sure there are many other factors at play, but that's how I look at the graph, FWIW.

[Doc1647545523]

Oh, how I yearn for those good ol' days ....

 

http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/as95-631_zpsabkznkxo.jpg

 

http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/recentlyupdated116_zps45ajbsdv.jpg

 

http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/FLAG_POLICY_DURING_THE_1973_oil_crisis_zpsithbsbn0.gif

[Das Borgen]

[quote=Doc;1869896

It took a few years for the manufacturers to find ways of significantly improving mileage while giving customers cars they wanted. Engine technology got better, cars got lighter, mileage went up, and ultimately quality improved.

 

I'm sure there are many other factors at play, but that's how I look at the graph, FWIW.

 

 

And that's how the Japanese managed to infiltrate the market. They had a huge jump start on fuel efficiency in the early 70s and USA took a while to catch up

 

 

I especially love this story of how Honda slapped GM in the face the best way they knew how: no words, just show of engineering superiority

http://jalopnik.com/when-honda-gave-gm-one-of-historys-most-amazing-smackdo-1576732771

[Grudes]

And that's how the Japanese managed to infiltrate the market. They had a huge jump start on fuel efficiency in the early 70s and USA took a while to catch up

 

 

I especially love this story of how Honda slapped GM in the face the best way they knew how: no words, just show of engineering superiority

http://jalopnik.com/when-honda-gave-gm-one-of-historys-most-amazing-smackdo-1576732771

 

Funny thing is now Honda and GM are working together to develop fuel cell vehicles

https://www.autonews.com/article/20150804/OEM06/308059998/gm-honda-join-forces-for-one-fuel-cell-design

[Das Borgen]

GM used to be super arrogant. They're more humble in that regard