Ford Blames Drivers for Greenhouse Gas Emissions
“Technology, alone, cannot solve this question of how to reduce emissions from cars. Reducing CO2 emissions from cars should be a shared responsibility.” And there you have it: Wolfgang Hennig's rationale for urging the European Union (EU) to spend more of its members' tax dollars to teach drivers how to emit less C02 (via their car, not personally). Wards Auto reports that Ford of Europe's "eco-driving manager" isn't alone in this "why don't you pick on someone else for a change" strategy. "The European Automobile Manufacturers Assn. says eco-driving training can lead to an immediate reduction in fuel consumption of up to 25%." So.. we're talking about government intervention in how you drive your car? Uh-huh. "The EU is leaving it up to the individual governments to run their own voluntary schemes, which if successful could lead to the EC including rules and standards on eco-driving in future legislation." But… how? "Isuzu Motors Ltd. has a new range of commercial vehicles equipped with an onboard computer system that records the use of the accelerator, gearshift, brake and clutch. Data is downloaded into a laptop, showing each driver how they perform on the road and acting as the basis for tailored eco-driving lessons." There's more, but it freaks me out.
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Hyperbole is one of the reasons I enjoy reading this blog, but I think you can tone down the rhetoric a bit. The auto industry doesn't want to be the scapegoat for global warming, and putting some resources behind educating people on how to drive more efficiently is probably money well-spent. It doesn't negate Ford's responsibility to develop more efficient, less CO2 belching vehicles, nor does it negate the government's responsibility to regulate CO2. As Hennig said, it's a "shared responsibility." Sounds pretty rational to me.
What? Are you guys seriously saying that full throttle acceleration gets improved gas mileage over granny driving all else being equal? Stop it guys. Seriously, that's dumb.
In the city, a lot of extra gas gets used, and a lot of people are delayed because people drive stupid. For ex: people who when turning left, don't go into the intersection, so that if they hve to wait until the light changes to make the turn, they're the only ones that can make the turn. People who turn left from a one lane in each direction road, and don't pull as far to the left as they can while they wait for a break in traffic. ETc. I'm not against teaching people to drive so that they use less gas. In fact, I thikn it's a good idea to at least encourage them. But I think the problem of stupid city drivers is worse, becuase not only does it increase fuel, it increases traffic, and tempers.
Qusus, yes -- you're welcome to get an ODBII or injector pulse logger and try it yourself. Note we're talking only about throttle under acceleration; "all else being equal" includes shift points, top speed, deceleration, etc (and each of those probably have a bigger effect on mileage). And note, as Lumbergh21 pointed out, that full throttle acceleration is not the same as maximum acceleration.