AAH #341 – On The Wright Track For Electrification
August 4th, 2016 at 3:00pm
Audio-only version:
Automakers are under enormous pressure to improve fuel economy. But the regulations were written when gasoline prices were soaring and now they’re the cheapest in decades. How can automakers improve fuel efficiency and still get consumers to buy the right mix of vehicles. Join us as we discuss the choices the industry faces.
SPECIAL GUEST: MaryAnn Wright, Group VP, Johnson Controls
All that and more with hosts John McElroy from Autoline.tv and Gary Vasilash, Automotive Design & Production, with guest analyst Michelle Krebs of Autotrader.com.
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Comments (3)
August 7th, 2016 at 7:57 am
My hope is Elon Musk will do for transportation what Steve Jobs did for communication. Thanks to his leadership I will be able to drive an attractive, affordable & fun to drive EV within my lifetime.
August 8th, 2016 at 6:28 pm
Trucks should be alot easier to meet the regs. Most US pickups have not received any of the same level of focus as the cars did. Those car efficiency improvements will carry over to trucks. Engine downsizing, electric turbos, lightweighting (only Ford has done the work), aero improvements. Unfortunately pickups are mostly a north american type so GM/Ford will not be able to look at other regions for inspiration.
Europe buyers buy small-efficient engines with lighter-smaller cars. V8s and even V6 are a rarity (apart from premium performance range). Most EU car makers sell a 3cyl engine now.
I agree the testing was crap but there will be no free lunch now after VW lied. At some stage, major EU cities will fine dirty cars so it curtails their access to the city. Is any US city even considering that?
August 8th, 2016 at 6:38 pm
I note someone who sells turbos and ICE parts has said electric is a niche market. What happens when fuel costs rise and keep rising. What happens when every residential home owner of solar buys a 2nd car as a bolt and charges it with rooftop solar.