So much for a Nissan Leaf!

[ultrarunner]

Not sure how the transponders will work...

I have different vehicles for different tasks... sounds like a lot of effort for a dump truck or Suzuki Samurai that combined travel 600 miles a year...

Plus my antique cars which some drive less than 20 miles a year like the 1905 Oldsmobile.

 

[3930dave]

Not sure how the transponders will work...

I have different vehicles for different tasks... sounds like a lot of effort for a dump truck or Suzuki Samurai that combined travel 600 miles a year...

Plus my antique cars which some drive less than 20 miles a year like the 1905 Oldsmobile.

I probably don't want to know the answer, but I have to ask....

Have you ever calculated the fuel mileage on that 1905 ?

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

In California... the problem with Diesel passenger cars has been California emission standards could not be met...

It was the same in the early-mid 70's when California was the only jurisdiction in the world to require unleaded fuel for Catalytic converters.

Not for the first time, I've thought about the parallels between the transition of gas motors of the 70's, and the diesels of today.

I just hope it goes quicker with diesels.

It took quite a long time to get to gas engines that were powerful, reliable, and low cost - in terms of emission equipment replacement.

I don't want to think about what it costs to replace a cat/trap on today's diesels.

Rgds, D.

 

[IXLR8]

I don't want to think about what it costs to replace a cat/trap on today's diesels.

Rgds, D.

At least for the VW's, it costs in the $2000 range. It is about 1/2 that to eliminate cat/trap and add a tune so the ECU doesn't care if they are missing!

 

[Loren49]

The hybrids and other hi mileage cars are already cutting into fuel tax revenues. So much so, some states are looking to replace the fuel tax with a "miles driven" tax. Using something like an Ez-pass transponder sort of system or a GPS tracking system.

Seems that it would be quite efficient to get an odometer reading at a yearly inspection (NYS requires yearly). Too make it a little more equitable there could be different cost per mile depending on vehicle weight. This way they get the miles without privacy isses.

The funds raised by the highway tax is falling way below what is needed to safely maintain our highways and bridges.

Find below portions of this article:
Fedeal gas tax increasingly unable to pay for transportation needs
The USA is at a critical juncture in how it pays for roads, bridges and transit. That's because the federal tax on gasoline, the primary method since 1956, has lost one-third of its buying power since it was last raised in 1993. States add their own tax on top of that, but the federal tax accounts for about 45%-50% of capital spending for transportation.
The federal gas tax 18.4 cents a gallon for gasoline, 24.4 cents for diesel is growing anemic because of more fuel-efficient vehicles, Americans driving fewer miles and the growth of electric and alternative-fuel vehicles. The tax rate on gasohol and most other special fuels is much less.

Each 1-cent increase in the federal gas tax generates about $1.8 billion in revenue, says Joseph Giglio, a professor at Northeastern University who has written extensively about transportation financing.

It seems to be a problem if EV pays nothing while gas/diesel users continue to pay.
Loren

 

[ultrarunner]

California does inspect Diesel vehicles too...

I remember a friend had a 83 Mercedes 300D and it was the last good year because of problems with the trap oxidizer or some such thing that plagued the next couple of years...

The 1905 holds very little fuel... single cylinder 7 hp.

I do know poor Mom... the last time I took her for a ride around the neighborhood... she kept telling me to slow down!!! I said Mom... top speed is under 30 mph!

She said it sure seems a lot faster when you are sitting out in front with the only the Curved Dash in front of you!

 

[ultrarunner]

Seems that it would be quite efficient to get an odometer reading at a yearly inspection (NYS requires yearly). Too make it a little more equitable there could be different cost per mile depending on vehicle weight. This way they get the miles without privacy isses.

The funds raised by the highway tax is falling way below what is needed to safely maintain our highways and bridges.

Find below portions of this article:
Fedeal gas tax increasingly unable to pay for transportation needs
The USA is at a critical juncture in how it pays for roads, bridges and transit. That's because the federal tax on gasoline, the primary method since 1956, has lost one-third of its buying power since it was last raised in 1993. States add their own tax on top of that, but the federal tax accounts for about 45%-50% of capital spending for transportation.
The federal gas tax 18.4 cents a gallon for gasoline, 24.4 cents for diesel is growing anemic because of more fuel-efficient vehicles, Americans driving fewer miles and the growth of electric and alternative-fuel vehicles. The tax rate on gasohol and most other special fuels is much less.

Each 1-cent increase in the federal gas tax generates about $1.8 billion in revenue, says Joseph Giglio, a professor at Northeastern University who has written extensively about transportation financing.

It seems to be a problem if EV pays nothing while gas/diesel users continue to pay.
Loren

Around here lots of highway money is siphoned off for bicycle lanes, public transportation and alternative transportation...

Electric Vehicles get a pass for carpool lanes too!

 

[buickanddeere]

Just like with hydrogen for fuel cells (Toyota has one ready), widespread acceptance will depend on the refueling infrastructure.

Interesting times are coming! Will it be EV's? Natural gas? Diesel? Fuel cells? We'll know more in a few years.

NG is a workable fuel for short and mid range vehicles. Hydrogen is a great idea except........... #1 The stuff is $$$ to make. #2 H2 is difficult to store. The tiny size of the H2 molecule lets it seep right through metal and makes the metal brittle.

 

[buickanddeere]

At least for the VW's, it costs in the $2000 range. It is about 1/2 that to eliminate cat/trap and add a tune so the ECU doesn't care if they are missing!

Now what do you do in states and provinces where there are annual or bi-annual visual inspections and tailpipe tests ?

 

[Redneck in training]

You mean..... it's not about the evironment ? :shocked:



If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck. Protectionism.

Not too many sectors lobby better than Oil/Auto here. Whether it is just profit driven, and/or due to EPA hassles, the oil industry seems to prefer selling gas here. Since many of those same companies sell plenty of diesel into other markets, I suspect this situation is mostly due to govt regs, in one form or another.

Rgds, D.

Protectionism is the answer.
The regulations we have are those the auto industry lobbied for. If you drive diesel vehicle that makes 12 mpg you pollute significantly more than small diesel car that does 45 mpg even though it has marginally less clean exhaust. So if you would have to pay road tax based on pollution your vehicle emits large engines will get penalized no matter how clean their exhaust would be. The regulations is designed to keep small diesels out of the market. It is in the same category as the 5 mph bumpers that were supposed to increase mass of small cars by large margin ( it worked about 6 month until the manufacturers of small cars came up with light design) or regulations requiring vertical head lamps lenses. It was designed to keep small earodynamic cars out of the market. It also worked only short time. Some cars got "bug eyes" and other got pop up lights. The list is long.