

Edmunds test drives the new Prius









Updated 3/25/2009


Comments     Threshold


RE: Wow
By Screwballl on 3/25/2009 11:01:27 AM , Rating: -1
Yes it is very much possible and has been since at least the 70s. The problem is that big oil has such a large stake in the automotive industry that they are preventing any technology that would allow these soccer mom super-size SUVs from getting 200mpg and keep the power it has.
I have seen several patents that claim just this and outline exactly how it is done... but they are bought up and buried by the oil or automotive industry.

RE: Wow
By martinw on 3/25/2009 11:20:01 AM , Rating: 4
This sounds like you are just repeating an urban legend. The thing is, if you patent something it has to be public - that is part of the purpose of patents. Also patents expire after a fixed time, usually 14 to 20 years. So they cannot be "buried" by these evil companies.

If you have really seen them you should be able to post a link to them, and once they expire they are free for anyone to implement.

RE: Wow
By Mitch101 on 3/25/2009 12:43:50 PM , Rating: 2
Mythbusters did kind of an episode about these and its a bust.

I think its really impressive to take a gallon of gas and go 50 miles in something that's a few thousand pounds especially with me in it.

I want to point out that if oil companies had this ability they would do it. Why? Because their 100 year supply of oil would become a 1000 year supply of oil and they could just jack up the prices to retain making billions. The only thing that hurts oil companies is alternatives especially ones that don't have a 100 year supply limit and can be made from something as simple as algae.

RE: Wow
By Spuke on 3/25/2009 1:38:05 PM , Rating: 2
Oil companies don't build cars. What are you talking about?

RE: Wow
By Mitch101 on 3/25/2009 2:53:37 PM , Rating: 1
Let me rephrase that then.

Oil companies would love 100mpg cars because it allows their 100 year supply to last even longer. The oil industry would not prevent 100mpg cars through patent prevention.

Its not like refineries can keep up with capacity needed so 100mpg cars will be needed.

Demand goes down they slow production and charge more. Demand goes way up we cant keep up with the refining process and the price still goes up. Oil wins until there are alternatives.

BTW spring is here expect gas to be on the rise again recession or now.

RE: Wow
By Spuke on 3/25/2009 3:46:24 PM , Rating: 2
Gotcha. Thanks for the explanation.

RE: Wow

Their goal is make as much profit NOW as possible.

RE: Wow

RE: Wow



They're asking you to save yourself money...


RE: Wow
By TedE on 3/26/2009 12:07:37 PM , Rating: 2
Actually oil companies would hate this because demand would drop dramatically while supply wouldn't which would produce dramatic drops in the price of oil.

Of course, as oil prices drop the incentive to use it efficiently disappears so this would never happen. This is one of the major arguments *against* fuel efficiency standards. Fuel efficiency ultimately helps keep oil prices lower thereby *decreasing* the incentive to pursue more efficiency. Perverse but true.

If this seems counter-intuitive then consider that highway building has found the same phenomena that more highway capacity does *not* decrease congestion because the capacity helps reduce the disincentives to drive thereby attracting *more* drivers.

While from an investment standpoint this kind of market equilibrium is desirable, from an emissions standpoint it is not. Ultimately, if you want to control emissions (CO2 for example) you need to tie a disincentive directly to the emission. That means a carbon tax.

RE: Wow
By William Gaatjes on 3/28/2009 4:41:10 PM , Rating: 2
You are forgetting the manager that is only capable of short term thinking. He or she does not want a hundred years of profit. He or she want's it now so he or she can "live large".

