Thread: Is improved Fuel Effeciency worth the cost in lives?

Originally Posted by kris_w

lol... I hear you! Would you like to sit forward facing, rear facing, in a pink booster, or grey, or maybe a polkadot one?? And no, I will NOT take them out! Such a pain in the a$$ to install

That's so funny. Please, don't mind the half eaten granola bar, or the skanky sippy cup I apparently forgot about, just crawl on over into the backseat and don't sit on the crafts or artwork, if you please. No, the windows don't open back there, but you'll feel some AC in 10 minutes or so. Only 5 minutes to the restaurant? Oh. Maybe you should drive.

Originally Posted by GloriaInTX

Do you really think that things are going to change that much in the next 13 years? They haven't changed that much in the last 13.

I don't particularly care about the next 13 years, specifically. I said the cars of the future, not the cars manufactured by 2025. C'mon Gloria. You don't actually believe we'll all be driving gas-powered cars for ever and ever, do you? And my comment about the self-driving cars - it's practically a joke to think about right now and even I kind of laugh at the idea. However, it is not outside the realm of possibility. We have cars that park themselves, cars that notify you when a kid runs behing your car when you're backing out of the driveway. Why would it be a stretch to see self-driving cars by 2025? I've seen test drives with these kinds of prototype cars.

Originally Posted by GloriaInTX

Do you really think that is ever going to happen? No matter what size cars they make there are always going to be delivery trucks and other vehicles that are bigger. I have 6 kids living in my home right now. In order for us to even all fit in the same vehicle I have to have a 8 passenger mini-van. It is not possible for them to ever make that vehicle 55MPG unless they make it out of paper. So what now I won't be able to buy a vehicle that I can fit my family in? If not there are always going to be bigger vehicles on the road.

Thats not really true. They are making multi passenger vehicles smaller and lighter these days as well. I have a traverse, and it is smaller than lots of 5 passenger vehicles, lighter too, with really good safety ratings.

Originally Posted by GloriaInTX

Do you really think that things are going to change that much in the next 13 years? They haven't changed that much in the last 13.

I think things are going to change substantially in the next 13 years. The drive for change is so much greater now. People are demanding better fuel economy then ever before, and that is going to be reflected in the market. When I bought my first vehicle 10 years ago, fuel economy was not a huge consideration, but now with the price of gas, it is a huge one!

Curious - what are you all paying for gas right now? We're at about $1.17 per litre. The BC girls are going say something scary, like $1.40 I think. I guess in gallons I'm paying about $4.50 a gallon. Is that a lot for Americans to pay?

IMO, Canada should start refining its own oil and bitumen. Maybe that would turn into lower prices at the pump. Probably not. Our govt would figure out a way to gouge us there too.

I'm not positive right now, but its usually around 1.35-1.45 ish. We go into Alberta to shop about every 3-4 months and once we buy gas (usually at Cost-co), we save enough that the drive itself doesnt cost us anything. Which is really sad when you think about it.

Originally Posted by Claire'sMommy

Curious - what are you all paying for gas right now? We're at about $1.17 per litre. The BC girls are going say something scary, like $1.40 I think. I guess in gallons I'm paying about $4.50 a gallon. Is that a lot for Americans to pay?

IMO, Canada should start refining its own oil and bitumen. Maybe that would turn into lower prices at the pump. Probably not. Our govt would figure out a way to gouge us there too.

Ya, we're $1.20/L right now. And that's cheap! (how sad it that!) It was $1.29 last week and has been close to $1.40. Ouch!

Amen on Canada refining our own oil and supplying ourselves.

Funny how everyone thinks that electric cars are going to be the answer when we have been having rolling blackouts every summer because they can't keep up with the demand, and now with all the regulations on coal Obama is trying to put in place I wonder where all this electricity is going to come from?

I love my small car and would feel safer if all of the larger ones were taken off the road, but don't think it's the governments responsibility or right to tell people what they should drive.

Gas was 3.59 a gallon here but is much higher now because of the Hurricane. I think I paid 4.50 a gallon yesterday morning.

Originally Posted by GloriaInTX

Funny how everyone thinks that electric cars are going to be the answer when we have been having rolling blackouts every summer because they can't keep up with the demand, and now with all the regulations on coal Obama is trying to put in place I wonder where all this electricity is going to come from?

From Quebec.

eta - at least New England is eyeing Quebec electricity. Plus, wind powered energy is contributing substantial amounts of electricity to power grids all over North America.

At least electricity is a clean, renewable resource. The comparison you're making is all about supply and demand. At least the argument for electricity is simply that more supply is needed to meet current demand. The argument for oil? Well, once it's gone that's it. Yes, current demand is high and is being met satisfactorily, but what happens when the supply starts dwindling and the price of gas goes sky high, like ten times what it costs now? Brits pay around $11 per gallon for gas. Is that a price you're comfortable with?