We have already visited this issue several times here in the past. The reality is it
seems fair to conclude that we all "agreed to disagree", so to speak!
Carleton (in his response to Richard) and Richard both summarize very well the essence
of the pros for both camps.
It also seems fair to conclude that from consumers point-of-view there seems to be
more usefulness in km/L while from fleet types of business the L/100 km would be the
logical choice.
By the way, it puzzles me that the industry would have chosen this unsightly ratio
when they could simply use:
daL/Mm
We already have precedence for "unfamiliar" prefixes in medicine, for instance (dL).
By using the above the number would be precisely the same as L/100 km and one would
not have to make use of a clear ratio rule violation (a theoretical one).
Marcus
On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 07:05:17
CarletonM wrote:
>In a message dated 2003-10-28 23:07:29 Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>writes:
>On Monday 27 October 2003 14:37, Kim, Richard wrote:
>> It also has other statistics, like for gas "mileage." Does anyone know why
>> gas consumption in metric is liters per 100 kilometers? Why isn't
>> kilometers per liter the standard, like MPG?
>
>I think the European system makes it ever-so-slightly easier to calculate the
>cost of fuel for typical usage. For example,
>
>"I'm going on a 200 km trip, and my car uses 8 liters per 100 km. I will use
>2*8 = 16 liters. At 1.10 Euro/L, it will cost me 17.60 Euros."
>
>Also, this is in some ways more natural since you are directly measuring
>consumption. It's very intuitive to me how one measures consumption. In
>America, we measure economy. I think measuring "economy" is less intuitive.
>
>Nonetheless, I think Americans should probably continue to measure fuel
>economy, and quote specification in km/L. For one thing, it is more SI-like.
>
>Also, the American people are very use to bigger numbers being better.
>Inverting this would create confusion and bad press for metrication.
>
>What do others here think? Is there already a precedent (legal or otherwise)
>in place?
>If you buy gas piecemeal, L/100 km is better, as you know how much to buy for
>a trip before you start sucking fumes.
>
>If you fill your tank every time, like most of us do, km/L is better, as you
>know how far that tank will take you. ("OK, 65 L, 12 km/L, that's 65 x 12 or
>780 km.")
>
>I prefer the latter.
>
>Carleton
>
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