Savings Experiment: Snow Removal
Bonds Are a 'Safe' Investment: A Big Lie Gets Even BiggerThere's the joke about the five General Motors executives that go on a camping trip in the Great Midwest. Suddenly, they spot a bear 600 feet away and charging toward where they're seated at the camp site.
Each executive has a rifle and is ready to shoot the bear to defend the campers, and the senior executive says: "Allright, Executives, ready, aim, aim, aim, aim, aim, aim, aim, aim, aim..."
But seriously, Detroit, home to the industry that transformed a culture and helped define life in the modern world itself, has achieved much in its storied history, and has the potential to achieve even more astonishing breakthroughs in the years and decades ahead.
Still, Detroit's recent performance record is not good, and the Big Three "have some explaining to do," to borrow a phrase, particularly regarding fuel economy. For those who don't follow the auto sector closely, the U.S.'s fuel economy, the miles per gallon of the domestic fleet, has more or less remained flat for about a decade. This is despite the increase in the number of adults driving, the massive amounts of additional, imported oil needed to meet this demand, and the added CO2's impact on the atmosphere.
Critics could expand on the lack of a viable hybrid (Japan is substantially ahead of Detroit regarding hybrid technology deployment), or a next-generation electric or fuel cell car that constitutes a game changer. But we'll leave aside those critiques to concentrate not on big-change, but small-change: there are actions Detroit can take right now to improve vehicle fuel economy.
1. Weight - The Big Three gets a low mark here. The domestic automakers have made some strides but much more weight reduction is needed through the use of aluminum, composites and related lighter materials, and via modular design. There are too many domestic model cars that are 3400 lbs. today that were 3400 lbs.10 years ago, or even (incredibly) 3,100 lbs. ten years ago. Detroit should have as a goal reducing the weight of each vehicle by 30% in five years. Airlines continually find ways to reduce weight because it lowers their operating costs; so should Detroit.
2. Transmissions - Here, the Big Three scores slightly higher. They've rolled out 6-speed and other variable-speed transmissions, but more investment is needed to apply the new technologies fleet-wide.
3. Combustion - Again, Detroit receives a modest grade regarding more-efficient fuel burning technologies, but the sense is that the Big Three could roll-out technologies quicker. Cylinder deactivation / variable displacement has been around for decades, but Detroit only recently started re-incorporating it as a fuel saving technique. Detroit needs to make up for lost time and deploy a deac tech that will save even more fuel in stop-and-go traffic / city traffic. Further, improvements to air conditioning systems would also cut fuel consumption.
4. Aerodynamics - On this point the Big Three receive their highest grade, but again more must be done. Today's cars, SUVs, and trucks are more aerodynamic than their predecessors, but they need to made even more sleek to lower the coefficient of drag. Given the amount interstate and secondary highway driving Americans undertake, aerodynamic improvements will yield substantial fuel savings.
Why hasn't Detroit made even greater progress in the above areas? Various reasons are cited: consumer preference and cost are frequently listed, but they're refuted by the fact that Americans are seeking these advances in foreign-built vehicles, who often have comparable manufacturing costs. If cost is a major factor, Detroit must find more ways to leverage its economies of scale to develop and deploy fuel-saving technologies quicker.
Still, the main point here is that rather than wait for the supercar with that industry-changing technology, the Big Three can deploy known technologies to substantially improve fuel economy in the immediate years ahead.
And given the current long-term trends regarding oil's use, price and its impact on the U.S. economy and the environment, not to mention individual budgets, that seems like the prudent road to take.
Still, Detroit's recent performance record is not good, and the Big Three "have some explaining to do," to borrow a phrase, particularly regarding fuel economy. For those who don't follow the auto sector closely, the U.S.'s fuel economy, the miles per gallon of the domestic fleet, has more or less remained flat for about a decade. This is despite the increase in the number of adults driving, the massive amounts of additional, imported oil needed to meet this demand, and the added CO2's impact on the atmosphere.
Critics could expand on the lack of a viable hybrid (Japan is substantially ahead of Detroit regarding hybrid technology deployment), or a next-generation electric or fuel cell car that constitutes a game changer. But we'll leave aside those critiques to concentrate not on big-change, but small-change: there are actions Detroit can take right now to improve vehicle fuel economy.
1. Weight - The Big Three gets a low mark here. The domestic automakers have made some strides but much more weight reduction is needed through the use of aluminum, composites and related lighter materials, and via modular design. There are too many domestic model cars that are 3400 lbs. today that were 3400 lbs.10 years ago, or even (incredibly) 3,100 lbs. ten years ago. Detroit should have as a goal reducing the weight of each vehicle by 30% in five years. Airlines continually find ways to reduce weight because it lowers their operating costs; so should Detroit.
2. Transmissions - Here, the Big Three scores slightly higher. They've rolled out 6-speed and other variable-speed transmissions, but more investment is needed to apply the new technologies fleet-wide.
3. Combustion - Again, Detroit receives a modest grade regarding more-efficient fuel burning technologies, but the sense is that the Big Three could roll-out technologies quicker. Cylinder deactivation / variable displacement has been around for decades, but Detroit only recently started re-incorporating it as a fuel saving technique. Detroit needs to make up for lost time and deploy a deac tech that will save even more fuel in stop-and-go traffic / city traffic. Further, improvements to air conditioning systems would also cut fuel consumption.
4. Aerodynamics - On this point the Big Three receive their highest grade, but again more must be done. Today's cars, SUVs, and trucks are more aerodynamic than their predecessors, but they need to made even more sleek to lower the coefficient of drag. Given the amount interstate and secondary highway driving Americans undertake, aerodynamic improvements will yield substantial fuel savings.
Why hasn't Detroit made even greater progress in the above areas? Various reasons are cited: consumer preference and cost are frequently listed, but they're refuted by the fact that Americans are seeking these advances in foreign-built vehicles, who often have comparable manufacturing costs. If cost is a major factor, Detroit must find more ways to leverage its economies of scale to develop and deploy fuel-saving technologies quicker.
Still, the main point here is that rather than wait for the supercar with that industry-changing technology, the Big Three can deploy known technologies to substantially improve fuel economy in the immediate years ahead.
And given the current long-term trends regarding oil's use, price and its impact on the U.S. economy and the environment, not to mention individual budgets, that seems like the prudent road to take.
Goldman Earnings Sink After Buffett Dividend
Johnson & Johnson's Income Falls 23%
Burberry Shares Leap on Sales Update
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-06-2007 @ 5:04PM
Ellen Troy said...
The American car industry is roiled by bad decisions made a decade ago. The same now appears to be true of the energy industry. Although the NewsVisual article on ExxonMobil http://www.newsvisual.com/newsvisual/2007/11/exxonmobil.html shows the board has experienced people, the company’s profits are sliding down. So, one wonders whether the country will choose to support energy efficient policies and companies as a matter of economic prudence.
11-06-2007 @ 5:09PM
Alouisis said...
How about style, comfort, appointments and driveability? The Big Three are a ship wreck waiting to sink.
11-06-2007 @ 5:55PM
Furnari said...
The thing that is most frustrating to me is that the technology for improved combustion and fuel economy exist < www.leanburnignition.com > and gathers dust on the shelf, while the auto industry remains complacent and does not offer it to the motoring public and take advantage of its use in order to gain market share
11-06-2007 @ 6:44PM
Furnari said...
The thing that is most frustrating to me is that the technology for improved combustion and fuel economy exist < www.leanburnignition.com > and gathers dust on the shelf, while the auto industry remains complacent and does not offer it to the motoring public and take advantage of its use in order to gain market share.
11-06-2007 @ 6:36PM
Cesare said...
Weight is a huge issue. As the aeronautical companies have shown, lower weight planes perform better and save fuel. The problem with cars is the following, and dig out your old Road & Track issues for specs to confirm: 15-20 years ago, average economy cars weighed 2400-2600 lbs and average luxury automobiles weighed 3400-3700 lbs. Today we still have autos in the 3000-3500 lbs area, but the largest vehicles (suvs and big trucks) now weigh well over 5000 lbs or even 6000 lbs. See the disparity? It's a safety issue. But if current gas prices force a roll back to the what the average national fleet looked like in the early 90's, then the safety problem goes away.
11-06-2007 @ 8:28PM
A D said...
Besides Honda, what import offers cylinder deactivation?
Not a long list.
Style?
Compare the new Mailbu vs Accord & Camry. The Japanese are hideous or plain. And nobody can say with a straight face that the interior of the Honda and especially the Toyota are in the same league. On top of that, the Camry has earned a reputation for lousy quality.
Weight?
Well since the domestics are carrying the burden of fighting against corporations that are hiding behind currency manipulation that is in the long run a subsidy that all Americans get to pay, yeah, they have the advantage. The weight of carrying the burden for their lies is heavy.
Let's face it, with all the baloney that gets spread and bought by the imports, it's amazing the domestics are still in business. And considering the complete ineptness of their home government, it's no wonder. Yet they keep going. Simple reason, their product is that good and the BS is that bad.
11-06-2007 @ 10:44PM
BoboTheClown said...
You missed the biggest item of all - vehicle mix. Detroit continues to push SUVs. Of course they prefer to blame America's SUV addiction on 'consumer choice' -- as if their advertising, their desire for fat profit margins, their dearth of alternatives (wagons, 4-wheel drive sedans) have no impact on 'consumer choice'.
If we'd just replace half of the gigantic SUVs with sedans or wagons (does any American brand make a wagon?), we'd probably do more to solve our oil problem than hyrids and everything you mentioned combined.
Also, you can add to your list diesel engines, which get about 30% better mpg than equivalent gasoline engine in the same car.
11-06-2007 @ 11:32PM
OINKJOHNSON2 said...
Poor American manufacturers; they just can't catch a break. The Congress is pressing them to achieve higher fuel mileage, while simultaneously virtually forcing them to make their cars run on gasahol or even E-85, both of which have higher octane, but less b.t.u. content. The result is, of course, lower fuel mileage. Surprise!
11-09-2007 @ 2:43PM
Ed Wickson said...
The American public is speed crazy. Of course, you are not one of the more than 75% of drivers who routinely exceed the posted speed limits (where traffic density permits). OK then, why do you have a radar/laser speed detector? It is not uncommon to see cars passing at 20-30 mph over the speed limit on Interstates. This fixation on speed is a major factor in over 40,000 deaths per year in vehicle crashes. Each year, this is more than ten times the total deaths to date in Iraq. The automotive industry aids and abets this speed craze through advertising!
11-09-2007 @ 3:06PM
jpdr1100 said...
What cars weigh the same as they did 10 years ago? Most have gained at least 20%.
The up side is that they are now safer. The down side is their mileage hasn't improved as much as it should. And that applies to ALL brands.
11-09-2007 @ 3:06PM
jpdr1100 said...
As for your lean burn ignition: dream on. Two strong sparks in a cylinder are no where near enough to solve the range of other problems. Ever heard of lean NOx?
Modern GDI engines are already showing improvements, by keeping the mixture stoichiometric around the plug. But even the best of those can't be sold here in the states. (see lean NOx, above)
11-16-2007 @ 10:51AM
Mike Sartor said...
I have read horror stories about technologies that Americans have dreamed up, and MADE, for American Cars. Yet, you will find that NONE of the things offerred for sale will actually work. They do not. Not even Acetone, unless you become a chemist, and overcome the cost/mileage ratio of the additions required.
I don't believe anything will ever be done, until a practicallly maniacal inventor,(who is already rich), decides to make it happen..... Only then will we see some results. Otherwise, I certainly won't live long enuff to see any.
Peace.. (And I like Capitalism, untill it starts elimination of the working class)....
Michael Sartor Sr
Cyborg
11-22-2007 @ 3:43PM
George said...
The real problem with the big three:
Incredibly gifted engineers are constrained by a giant cloud of unimagination fueled by the risk adverse. Innovation requires risk. Which required a paradigm shift in the Big 3's traditional approach to designing vehicles. Innovate or stagnate...
11-26-2007 @ 4:21PM
Attila said...
American autos have too much horsepower. I have a 96 Buick Century with 150 horse six cylinder engine. I get 22 mpg in town and 30 highway. The car is decent size. Seems pretty simple!