Study: MIT Brains on America's Car Future

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently released a study describing how the United States should move forward in developing cleaner automobile technology. Here are some of the highlights from their findings:

• The rapid introduction of hybrids and diesel vehicles will likely not make a major impact in emissions before 2025, and it will take a major increase in consumer interest in fuel efficient vehicles to truly lower emissions and oil dependency. MIT found that if 55% of vehicles on the road were hybrids, emissions would shrink by 20% in the next 30 years. Without improvements in vehicle efficiency, fuel use will rise 35% in that span of time.


• It's more important for car manufacturers to focus on short-term improvements like introducing more hybrids and using light-weight materials to increase efficiency than it is to try to introduce technologies that aren't ready for widespread use (like hydrogen fuel cells).

Comments

Not a very optimistic outlook... but it is the reality of it all. And just think that the last 8 years have been wasted while W and his friends got fat. Just makes you sick.

"The government can best support fuel efficiency by offering broad tax credits to consumers and automakers for fuel efficient vehicles..."

The fact is that we need cut down use of oil not because it is expensive now but because we may change our natural habitat and kill ourselves, besides that we were poisoning ourselves for while now.
The government can and should best support fuel efficiency by cutting down ethanol and penalizing heavily non-business owners of large vehicles and dealers who sold them. Also, government can regulate engine output and number of cylinders in a vehicle. And who cares if it is slow when all are slow?
In Denmark their government cut down on cars in a simple way - 100% tax.
The government needs to promote urbanization plans or we will never stop driving great distances.

Ziggy like it or not gas at $4 per gallon is finally the first time the american public is starting to abandon their SUV's for other perfectly safe modes of transportation. And, let's not forget why we were driven to those hulking masses fear of getting killed in our little cars, a fear largely driven by Ralph Nader and our liberal media. I drive a vw passat that averagees 30 mpg per tank. If people would start to really challenge what they are driving and why they are driving it, the national average would greatly increase. We live in a market society and I for one am in favor of higher gas prices because it is the only way we as a society will begin to use less of a non renewable resource. And, some of us do not want to live in an urban setting.

It's unfortunate that gas prices continue to rise considering we have become a nation that wastes the resource. That waste comes in many forms. One of them, the single occupant, large SUV or light/heavy duty truck. It's sad that those vehicles have become a status symbol as much or more so than a luxury passenger car. As long as the auto manufacturers continue to produce those behemoths, people will buy them. They may be concerned with the price of operation but will carry on as usual "because they can afford it". I say tax the hell out of those vehicles that are not used efficiently in commerce. Give that money to those who embrace the need to "reduce the use" and purchase the most fuel efficient vehicles available. I think that would spawn a change in buying habits. If you don't need to haul a crew or tow a trailer, there's no need to buy a full-size SUV or large light/heavy duty truck.

We need a greater selection of safe, lightweight vehicles for errands and commuting and that's what most of it comes down to. Weight. The manufactures have done about as much as they can do in regard to fuel and emission efficiency of the engines they produce. Now they just need to focus on ways of reducing the weight of the vehicles those engines power.

"Those who trade liberty for security will get neither"

It sickens me that this country is spiraling towards socalism. The SUV thing has been going on for almost 20 years yet this is somehow Bush's fault (actually it can be traced to a Bush the First era luxury tax on cars over $30k, trucks were exempt. The rest is history.)

I'm so tired of Bush and the Bush bashing (is he an evil mastermind or a village idiot? Think hard people, he can't be both.)

So now in the face of $4 a gallon oil, the same people who thought it was so cool to drive a Range Rover or Grand Cherokee to the grocery are DEMANDING that somebody DO SOMETHING! Like force us all to drive Yaris's.

Market will definitely fix the issue of big cars. But it could be too late. Again, main point is to reduce consumption and pollution. The price is secondary thing.
Do we go towards socialism? Yes, we are in a way. Remember the law: better economy - less socialistic tendencies. Worse economy - more socialistic tendencies.
Do you know how many millions of people today, including children, can't afford medical insurance in the USA? Well-paid jobs are going out the window. Why Walmart stock is the only one (Holiburton is another) that climbs?
Some rich lost any kind of control. And when mass of unhappy people will eventually become a critical mass... Something going to happen. With no middle class (happy people) and too many low income (unhappy) there is potential for the beg riot at least. And considering number of firearms on people hands...
So don't be surprized if Obama wins. With the presidency like we had in the last 8 years even Osama can win election here.

We should set a goal that by 2015, nearly every vehicle produced in the U.S. should be a hybrid. That should be the standard drivetrain in cars and trucks - but that's assuming that the price of the technology would drop substantially if it was universally adopted. (Maybe small displacement diesels and gasoline cars that get over 40 mpg average would be exceptions). We could cut our fuel use while still giving people the choice of vehicles they crave and deserve and keep up with the growing numbers of drivers. Making those hybrids plug-ins would stretch our oil supplies even farther. In my opinion, we're past the point of debating the cost/benefit ratio of hybrids - they do save gasoline, and paying a little more up front for the car is far preferable to our nation running short of fuel. Pure electrics for urban use should be a no brainer too, with incentives for the people who buy them. Cylinder deactivation technology should also be offered across the board, so all trucks, minivans and sports cars see fuel savings too. Every modest improvement that lowers demand will help keep fuel prices in line. These are things that we can do right now, and with the new mileage mandates probably will probably be adopted on a larger scale soon.

I see those who blame the SUV market for high gas prices? yet my 4x4 Suburban get better mileage than the early 70's full size cars, I hear Diesel is cheaper to refine than Gas yet Diesel is mugh higher, to purchase a Diesel truck the sticker price was $7500 over gas. at .75+ per gallon why go to Diesel? A freind just purchased a Hybrid import that claims 48 MPG, they get 39, and they spent 6,000 over the gas version that claims 33 mpg. so they dont get near the milege claimed, and they have higher car payment. I will stick with my Suburban and pay the higher prices, for you who blame us SUV lovers remember I can pull a boat haul 6 very comfortably and still have plenty of room for camping gear, with all luxury features, and yes I do have a car for the local city driving, lets try buy American cars save good jobs. the big 3 auto makers are shrinking, Seems like every thing we buy is imported yet we still have Cars made in the USA and the House we live in, Lets help our economy more with what be buy, everytime we purchase imported goods your helping other Countries not ours, Cars are a very expensive product that can make a big difference here. buy American when you can. help keep our jobs and our neighbors.

Last post is simply dumb.
It doesn't matter really anymore if you buy American of foreign car if it is made in USA.
As company profits goes... Surely Japs pay more in taxes here then big 3, which drawning in debt.
and what about all the business big 3 have outside of US?