UCS Vanguard Calls Carmakers' Bluff

[The Straight Story]

UCS Vanguard Calls Carmakers' Bluff

Are the automakers bluffing when they say they can't hit California's new emissions targets? If so, the Union of Concerned Scientists is calling their bluff. Yesterday the UCS unveiled a minivan design that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 40 percent while saving consumers money and keeping safety and performance intact.

Vanguard06

The UCS Vanguard — which is not a hybrid — uses off-the-shelf technologies, including the engine, transmission, and fueling systems. Besides saving the litigious manufacturers millions in R&D costs, it enables them to drop their legal challenge to California's emissions standards and get back to work making cars that people can drive without despoiling the planet. Good news for them ... right?

Assuming the automakers don't manage to derail the new standard — not necessarily a safe assumption — California will require a 34 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for cars and light trucks within the next 10 years; for larger trucks and SUVs, the cut is 25 percent. The California standard has already been adopted by ten other states — Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington — and Arizona, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Texas are on their way there.

As Spencer Quong, the senior UCS vehicles engineer and former automaker consultant who designed the Vanguard, observed: "Meeting state laws for fighting global warming should be no sweat for the automakers. They already have the solution to pollution right under the hoods of their own cars and trucks."

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2007/03/ucs_vanguard_ca.html

[MADem]

1. Gotta LOVE UCS!!! They make science cool!!! NT

[Shallah Kali]

2. Yay! My state is on that list! Go Maine!

.

[dkofos]

3. It can't mean much if Texas is on the list

[TreasonousBastard]

4. If it's too good to be true...

it probably isn't.

I read the specs and report from UCS, and most of the emissions reduction is from using ethanol instead of gasoline. Other than that, the whole thing is simply a tract on how to get better mileage.

A lot of the is simply tweaking, or using fairly expensive technology-- variable valve timing, tweaked transmissions, turbos, hard tires... Most of them simply get slightly better fuel mileage from the drive train. No mention of CVT transmissions, though, or final drive ratios and other stuff that can affect fuel mileage. Or how drivers can increase their mileage by driving differently and doing some simple maintenance.

All of this tweaked stuff is available and already used on many models. Some of it you can even do yourself.

Bottom line, aside from the alternative fuels thing-- buy the vehicle with the highest mileage rating and you'll get their "Vanguard."

[ArmchairMeme]

5. Yea for Massachusetts

I have already heard auto mechanics say this can be done!

[Cobalt Violet]

6. K & R

:kick: