> -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Charlie Bell > Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2007 3:09 AM > To: Killer Bs Discussion > Subject: Re: This is not a False Alarm... > > > On 12/04/2007, at 6:58 AM, Dan Minette wrote: > > >> > >> Newer cars use less fuel to travel further than older cars. > > > > Lighter newer cars might...but I don't think the same sized new > > cars. In a > > real sense, a small car is more efficient than a large car, but > > that's not > > what I was thinking of. I was thinking of the energy requirements > > of the > > anti-pollution equipment on autos. As a result of this equipment, > > the power > > train is less efficient than it use to be. > > No. There are small losses through the cat, and there are more losses > if you have AWD, but engine management, direct injection, and > materials have meant the net efficiency of drivetrains is far better.
Here, AWD means all wheel drive....but I know I have much more than a catalytic converter on my car. Googling the details is harder than I expect, so I don't have the exact details. But, I know that my anti-pollution system does take power, via a belt connection to the engine. My recall is that this is a significant power drain and involves the recycling of exhaust gas. I searched again, and the first 30 or so hits for many combinations, are not related to the question...so I have to go on memory. One thing that strongly influences my memory was my ownership of a car that _actually_ got 50 mpg on the highway (or at least 48) and about 40 in town. It was a 1979 VW Diesel Rabbit, and seated 4. Diesels were not subject to restrictions at that time, but gas powered autos were. The comparable gas Rabbit got ~30 mpg//25 mpg. We don't see widespread us of this option now...certainly less than in the late '70s. I recall reading that this was due to the difficulty of both having the pollution control equipment required in the US and the superior mileage. Since I haven't been able to find anything on the web to confirm or deny these memories, I will stand corrected if someone has harder data than I do. Dan M _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
