CAFE standards... rolled back

[sgtsandman]

This is possible. But, it doesn't explain why the rest of the world started getting bigger trucks before we did in North America. Toyota did it. Mazda and Ford also increased the size of the Mazda BT-50/Ranger platform overseas in the mid-2000s. I think at least part of the reason is people are willing to pay more for a larger vehicle. What also should be considered is redesigns for safety reasons. Trucks and SUVs are wider now to reduce rollovers.

Part of the reason the rest of the world started going with the bigger mid sized truck is that they are doing the duty over there that a full sized truck is here. Due to the limitations of road sizes and parking spaces, full size trucks don't often work well over there. Frankly, I'm surprised they went with a mid size. They might be running into the same issues we are having here with fuel economy standards and the size of the vehicle, but that is purely speculation on my part. So, if all that is true, needing the higher load capacity of a mid size and the mpg standards might be driving them into a bigger truck while trying to stay somewhat reasonable in vehicle size because of the narrow streets and small parking spaces.

 

[00t444e]

I agree when it comes to EVs. When it comes to fuel efficiency, assuming feasable standards, I think legislation in this regard is fine. Regarding it being contitutional, the Supreme Court has ruled otherwise. The court cases you see today regarding these issues is because some of the laws create an unreasonable burden on manufactures. And really, I question people who take issue with increased efficiency. It's like arguing that they want to pay four times the cost of electricity and 25% more for gas. The key here is reasonable. It's reasonable for an older Ranger to get 30 mph. I get that with my 2007 Ranger. Without both emissions and fuel economy legislation, we would never have reach 19 mpg in those trucks. Making an argument that somehow the latter situation is better is just silly, and a lack of critical thinking.

There should be absolutely no regulation on this, not everyone cares about fuel efficiency so the government shouldn't force it on anyone. I would rather have a reliable V8 Ranger that got 15 MPG over a turbo 4 cylinder that got 25 MPG. The ignorant CAFE regulations are the reason why we can't have vehicles like that. I had a 98 V8 5 speed Dakota and it was an awesome small truck. Can't have one of those now due to Government regulations. CAFE laws are set by the secretary of transportation which is an executive office. No provision in the Constitution allows the executive branch to make laws.

 

[00t444e]

There is a reason HEAVY equipment and trains are diesel/electric.

Yes and that reason is not efficiency, a diesel/electric setup is actually less efficient than just using a diesel engine. The reason the diesel electric setup is used in that application is its far easier to control, regulate and transfer power to the wheels. If it used a regular diesel engine with a traditional transmission it would be an absolute nightmare, it would need 50 gears or more, a very complicated, high mantainace drive system for the wheels, and trying to synchronize speed and power output between multiple locomotives hooked together would be a monumental task.