100 Miles Per Gallon? That’s So “1992”

According to a new survey by JD Power and Associates,
approximately one third of consumers in the United States
consider fuel economy to be a key factor when purchasing a new
car. With fuel economy, dependence on foreign oil, pollution,
and global warming weighing heavy on the minds of so many
people recently, it may be a surprise to learn that in 1992,
General Motors actually produced a vehicle that achieved 100
miles per gallon (MPG).

In order to get a better idea of what General Motors has been
doing for the last 25 years, it is important to first learn
about another amazing vehicle: The GM TPC. The TPC (which
stands for “Two Person Commuter”) was able to obtain 75
miles-per-gallon. It weighed approximately 1000 pounds and
resembled a Geo Metro. GM abandoned the project vehicle, which
contained a frugal 3-cylinder engine, when they needed to add
another 200 pounds of reinforcement. This unfortunate turn of
events can be blamed on GM’s need to comply with America’s then
lax safety laws.

While the existence of such a vehicle may be shocking to some,
what is even more shocking is the existence of other prototypes
made by General Motors that met the same demise. These vehicles
included the GM Lean Machine (80 MPG) in 1982, along with a
number of other fuel efficient vehicles like the GM Aero-X, the
GM Aero 2000, and the finally the GM Ultralite (which had
achieved 100 miles-per-gallon). While Honda was leading the
world with the Civic VX in 1992 (achieving 50 miles-per-gallon)
the USA- owned General Motors was producing 100 MPG vehicles
behind the scenes, all the while selling 20 MPG vehicles to the
public.

100 miles per gallon is not only obtainable, but it already has
been obtained.

One obvious question must be asked. Why are these high gas
mileage vehicles not available for sale? Why do companies like
General Motors, Honda, Toyota, and Ford continue to sell 30 MPG
vehicles when something so much better was made before? The
answer to that question is, of course, a complex one. Market
analyses, surveys, polls, government regulations, and other red
tape held back efficiency.

The short answer to this question is simple: While the U.S.
continues to sell its traditional vehicles, other vehicles are
being bought and sold far from America, by the same companies.

Vehicles that can attain over 70 miles per gallon have been
sold in Europe and Japan for many years. Recently, Volkswagen
produced a vehicle called the “Lupo” that is a perfect example.
This vehicle, which achieves 78 miles per gallon, likely will
never be sold in the USA. For the 2007 model year, Honda has
introduced the Fit to the US Market (known in other parts of
the world as the “Jazz”). In Japan, the Jazz comes standard
with a smaller engine and a few fresh ideas to help boost fuel
economy. In the USA, the Fit doesn’t have the smaller engine
and isn’t even an option.

Americans have always loved big cars, or at least that’s what
they tell us. They, of course, are the auto manufacturers. This
has nothing to do with conspiracy theories and everything to do
with economics. When General Motors sells a giant truck or SUV,
they make a lot of money. When they sell a small two-person
commuter, they make next-to-nothing. As a consequence of this
realization, all that was needed have been broadcasts of a few
finely focused commercials to the citizens of the richest
country in the world. Manufacturers have persuaded the
citizenry that they absolutely need these “Tanks on Wheels”.
Profits skyrocket. To remind Americans that there are no
options, merely look at the fact that the options heave never
been presented.

General Motors had the chance to be the world leader in fuel
economy, which it turned down to be the world leader in SUVs.
GM is not alone, as every other auto manufacturer has produced
similar vehicles over the last 25 years and denied the U.S.
access to them.

Americans should not only ask how they can get better gas
mileage, but most importantly ask why they have never been
given that option in the first place. In a world where wars are
waged over oil, more options should be offered to a concerned
public. Perhaps blowing the dust off of 25 year old blue prints
is a good place to start.

Article Source: http://www.article-heaven.com

Matt Timion owns and operates www.GasSavers.org. He belongs to a number of groups dedicated to efficiency, gas mileage, and alternative energy.

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