Part of the auto industry has gone crazy for hybrids, another for ethanol (E85) fuel. I question both, and wonder about the frenzy of political correctness surrounding each.
A British motoring journal recently published the findings of well-respected CNW Marketing Research of Oregon, curiously not picked-up on by the American motoring press. Over two years, CNW studied the total environmental impact of various cars, and produced some provocative results. Rather than focusing solely on fuel consumption, like politicians and Hollywood eco-experts, the Oregon study looked at the whole picture, including manufacturing, R&D, durability and recyclability.
The non-hybrid Toyota models Scion xB, Yaris, and Corolla were the three best “total environment” cars. But the “dust-to-dust” energy cost of a hybrid Prius was nearly five times that of the Yaris.
The huge, heavy, and thirsty Range Rover Sport turned out to be 25% “greener” than the Prius, as were several other of the politically-despised SUVs.
Surely, hybrids will get better over time, but you wonder about granting tax credits and commuter-lane preferences based on the frivolity of political correctness.
Ethanol is another questionable panacea. I’m surely not an engineer, or even much of an expert, but ethanol, according to reliable reports, seems to clog fuel systems and rot fuel lines. Plus, if we grew enough corn to produce lots of ethanol, we’d displace other vital crops.
Last summer I talked to some antique car racers who had just “raced” for two weeks across America. One driver told me that his 1917(!)Packard ran fine all the way, except for a bit of indigestion caused by ethanol fuel used in Indiana. If a 90-year-old, low-tech car gags on ethanol, what’s your smog-controlled, electronically governed high-tech 2007 wonder car going to do?
Bring Back Keys
Lots of the test cars that come my way have “keyless-entry”. If you have the key in your pocket, the car knows it, and lets you in. The same sensing system allows the car to start, with no key inserted in the lock. So far, so good. But how do you know the doors are locked if you’re traversing a rough neighborhood, if they were unlocked enough to admit you? And what if you forget to leave the key at the valet parking? One writer suggested a receptacle for the key on the dashboard, so at least you could see it. She further suggested that this receptacle could contain a slot into which you could insert the key, to hold it in one place. Sort of like a regular old ignition switch. (To be absolutely fair, some cars do have a receptacle for the non-key. And those with old style door locks have a visual indicator that they are in locked position.)
Will the US Car Industry Survive?
You won’t have missed the endless bad news coming out of Michigan in recent months. The low-imagination, UAW-dominated version of the auto business has been dying a long, slow death.
But the US auto manufacturing industry is alive and well. In recent years, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW have moved a lot of their production to the US. No UAW, though.
In the early 80’s, the UAW pushed for domestic-content-legislation, to force importers to build cars here, no doubt thinking it would be easy to organize new plants. They were wrong. As a result, the new auto industry is alive and well. Unfortunately, traditional manufacturing states are suffering.
A Domestic Bright Spot
Ford has just introduced a very crisp “cross-over”, sort of a tall station wagon, luxuriously appointed and well executed. It’s called Edge. The car is very impressive, just about the right size and shape to be a fine all-rounder. Looks good, too, being tasteful and well proportioned.
It shows what the American industry can do when they get focused. If you think you need a big SUV, or a Mercedes Gelandewagen, try this Ford first. You might be won over.
