You are right, US did not have it in the past and do not have it today. High standard innovated designs, if it concerns safety or fuel efficiency, but also high cost, are European hall marks.
I agree with you that the gap might have been widening, between nothing and active research and innovations. I do belive that it is a relative status quo. Shell is two quite interesting companies, one European and one US. They have nothing to do which each other and are separated by a strict fire wall. The European Shell is based in den Haag, The Netherlands and I had a lot to do with them in the past, as supplier of IT solutions. It is a very serious company and difficult to be approved supplier to them, but if you are, it is very rewarding. I managed to make corporate contracts with them two times. The reason for the strict separation, is the US tax rules and if they did not keep it, they would have to pay tax on world wide income in US. This is not what a Dutch company like to do. -:)) Shell US would never sponsor anything outside US, it could be potentially very expensive. LOL Hakan At 04:39 PM 7/1/2005, you wrote:
> > Fuel efficiency came a long way since then, but the relative difference > > between US and European vehicles seams to be the same. -------- My memory must be slipping because I don't recall Ford or General Motors having something similar to a VW Lupo 3L (78 mpg US) or the VW 1L (235 mpg US) or a 50 year Shell Mileage Marathon sponsored by US oil companies or maybe they do in Europe or elsewhere. It looks to me this 49cc Replicar Cursor 26 mph, 90 mpg imperial is an example of a covered moped. http://www.3wheelers.com/cursor.html Are there many other types around Europe or the world?
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