Our national security continues to be at stake. By borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Middle East, we dig ourselves deeper into the hole each day.
As a nation, we must take a comprehensive and unbiased approach to national transportation/energy policy. We have been given the natural resources to make this happen. It is simply a question of having the will to see it through, without giving into factions and lobbies.
Step 1: Immediate and massive conversion of diesel fleet vehicles to natural gas power (NGV). This will spur employment and lower pollution in communities across the nation. School bus, public transportation, utility, delivery, and courier fleets present a prime opportunity for retrofits and new vehicle sales.
Step 2: Encourage the rapid adoption of highly-efficient clean diesel passenger vehicles. The engines and exhaust treatment systems have been developed. Americans need to be able to buy passenger vehicles with the same fuel-efficient engines that are available in Europe, where diesel market share exceeds 50%.
Step 3: Continue to encourage the development of electric-powered passenger vehicles (PHEVs & EVs). Lets get the battery plants built and bring these cars to market at an affordable cost. This will require massive government subsidies in the short-term, until the cost of production is driven down to a realistic level.
Step 4: Turn up the heat on biofuel development. Ease away from inefficient corn-based ethanol production. Increase algae production efforts.
Step 5: Provide micro-grants to garage entrepreneurs for technology development and installation. Revitalize the auto dealerships that have lost their franchise and get those service departments humming again.
Step 6: Encourage drivers to become more fuel-efficient through technology and technique. You don’t have to drive like Grandma to save a few dollars at the pump each time you fill up. Over the course of a year, the savings can be significant.
MPG-o-Matic Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Review Summary:
The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4×4 was built to travel the road less taken. The four-door Unlimited provides a unique combination of features: plenty of room for crew and cargo, time-honored four-wheel-drive capabilities, and strong resale values. While not one for poseurs, the Wrangler Unlimited is the only four-door convertible on the market.
Domestic energy independence and economic renewal are core themes here at MPGomatic. Today’s announcement of the Federal Recovery Through Retrofit program spurs the question: why isn’t there a Recovery Through Retrofit Program for Pickup Trucks?
Tens of millions of existing pickup trucks could benefit from the conversion to plentiful natural gas or to more fuel-efficient diesel engines. Shuttered automobile dealerships could become conversion centers that reemploy displaced workers and stimulate the economy on Main Street. Existing technology can be bolted into place immediately, without waiting years for development.
Domestically manufactured clean diesel engines and natural gas vehicle (NGV) conversion kits will bring benefit in the near term, as battery-powered conversions come down the line and prices fall.
Cash for Clunkers was just a start. There is much more to do at a local level.
A Recovery Through Retrofit program for Pickup Trucks goes right to the heart of the matter, by providing economic sensibility with an approach that encompasses all technologies, rather than one.
MPG-o-Matic Hyundai Elantra Touring Review Summary:
The versatile Hyundai Elantra Touring delivers a generous amount of cargo capacity, a host of in-cabin technology, and a four-cylinder engine capable of delivering highway mileage in the mid-thirty mile per gallon range. For those so inclined, the B&M shifter brings the manual-equipped Elantra Touring to life.
MPG-o-Matic Ford Mustang V6 Review Summary:
When equipped with the standard 4.0-liter V6 engine, the 2010 Ford Mustang delivers a winning combination of style, handling, driveability, and in-cabin technology along with reasonable fuel economy. If you want a brand new factory convertible, the 2010 Mustang is the sole choice among the Detroit Three’s retro pony cars.
