Raising state cc license exemptions from 50 cc to 250 cc would greatly increase the pool of motorcycles and scooters immediately available to the public, and would create demand for models not currently exported to the States.  Bikes and scooters that are light and fitted with a low seat height are relatively easy to ride, and every dealer we spoke with would provide free or low-cost day classes to get customers comfortable with their new rides.  For those that may be intimidated by cruising around on two wheels,  Piaggio’s MP3 line of scooters comes equipped with two front wheels for additional stability.

Ninja 250R - Image courtesy of Kawasaki

Modern scooters and motorcycles with displacements of 250 cc can achieve 60-80 mpg, and depending on geography, are a good fit for many urban commuters.  And because small cycles and scooters require so little gas, their widespread use could markedly reduce America’s thirst for imported oil.

Feature image courtesy of Piaggio USA

Toyota IQ - Image courtesy of Toyota UK

Let’s take a look at Toyota’s successful RAV4. The US version comes equipped with a 3.5 liter V6 or 2.5 liter 4 cylinder gas engine with automatic transmission. In the UK, engine options are 2 liter gas with standard or automatic transmission and 2.2 liter diesel with standard transmission. After converting to US gallons, The UK RAVs combined fuel economies are 25.5mpg for the 2 liter gas engine and 32.5mpg for the diesel option, exceeding anything available in the States. Unfortunately, until the dollar recovers, Toyota has little incentive to make the more costly European and Asian engines available in the US.

Some models such as Toyota’s Aygo and soon to be released IQ are not for sale in the US. Sporting a 1 liter 3 cylinder engine good for 48mpg combined fuel economy, the Aygo would make a perfect commuter car here in the States. But sadly, there are no official plans to make the Aygo or IQ available to the US market.

Image courtesy of Ford Motor Company - click image to visit their website

The four door four cylinder sedan is a responsible choice for most folks, but trying to power a 3,200 pound car with four pistons has been a problem. In the last decade, we have seen displacements inch up from 2 liters to 2.5 liters in order to provide the additional torque necessary for adequate throttle response and safe passing.

Current technology exists to produce just as much power and torque from a direct injected gasoline powered 2 liter engine without the need for turbocharging or even variable valve timing.  Because direct injection allows for higher compression ratios, torque is increased throughout the power band which boosts horsepower.  Additional torque allows for more aggressive cam profiles which can boost power even further, while greater efficiencies improve fuel economy.

Ford (Mazdaspeed 3) and General Motors are already producing 2 and 2.3 liter direct injected engines, so re-tooling would be minimal.  Dropping such an engine into a low-drag chassis built with lightweight alloy steel to contain weight, a 4 door sedan should approach or even exceed 40 highway mph.  If placed into an existing chassis, pricing should range between $20k and $30k depending on trim levels and accessories. The time has come, so let’s fire up the foundries.

Note to Big 3: Don’t forget the 6 speed manual transmission option!

Continuing with the sustainable theme, the frame is joined with hemp cord, and due to the natural light weight and strength of bamboo, frames start at just 4 pounds.

Image courtesy of Calfee Design

Calfee is also involved in the Africa Bamboo Bikes project which seeks to build affordable bicycles for underpriveleged Africans in rural areas. You may learn more about the Bamboo Bike project here:
http://www.bamboobike.org

Ford Escape 34mpg city

Image courtesy of Ford Motor Company

If you want a peek into where the auto industry is heading, look no further than commercial transportation. The livelihood of the trucking industry hinges on fuel economy, and one look at today’s trucks will tell you what changes are in store for automobiles and light trucks. Diesel contains more energy than gasoline which translates to better fuel economy. Modern big rigs are powered with engines sporting such features as turbocharging and Diesel Direct Injection. These technologies allow an engine with much smaller displacement to do the same amount of work as an engine with much larger displacement but lacking the efficiencies and technology of its little brother.

Image courtesy of Ford Motor Company

So, what is on the horizon? Look for a wave of low-displacement (1.8 to 2 liter) 4 cylinder cars and trucks sporting, you guessed it, direct injection and/or turbochargers. Direct injection improves efficiencies and power by allowing higher compression due to the superior burn obtained by placing the fuel injectors directly into the cylinder head. Higher compression increases torque across the RPM range. Direct injection in conjunction with a drive by wire throttle and computer control allows engineers to eliminate restrictive throttle plates to adjust engine speed. Instead, speed is controlled by adjusting the air/fuel mixture ratio which is more efficient under power and far more efficient when your foot is off the gas pedal. Also look for lightweight steel alloys in doors, trunks and hoods to trim weight and increase fuel economy.

Turbocharging is virtually free horsepower as it uses a turbine spun by exhaust gasses to pack more air into the intake system. Roughly speaking, adding 10 PSI of boost from a turbocharger will increase horsepower and torque by approximately 50%. Gains would be better, but higher intake temperatures due to the compression effect of air along with required changes to ignition timing reduce power slightly.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Restrain from purchasing a truck or SUV if a car will do. Don’t buy a 4 wheel drive car if front drive will suffice. Putting power to four wheels increases losses from friction, etc, and modern all-season tires are capable of navigating front-drivers through all but the nastiest winter snows.

Don’t be sentimental when it comes to your daily driver. Older cars pollute far more than today’s vehicles. That 1965 VW Bug may have a special place in your heart, but it emits more hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide than any modern gas-guzzling SUV.

What to Look for

As speed increases, proportionally more power is required to overcome air resistance. Remember all that fuss over drag coefficient ? Drag coefficient is only one part of the equation. Total drag is calculated by multiplying frontal area (imagine taking a snapshot of the front of a car and measuring what constitutes car in cubic inches or centimeters) by drag coefficient. The lower the drag, the better a car or truck’s highway fuel economy, everything else being equal.

Take heed of the vehicle’s capacities. It is less expensive and more sustainable to replace 3.5 quarts of oil than 6. Replace filters at required intervals, and use synthetic oil to reduce fuel consumption and increase the life of your engine and vehicle. Wax your car regularly to reduce drag, and polish the windshield using a product such as Rain-X .

Don’t purchase too little power! If you’re constantly piling 4 kids and a golden retriever into the car to head to soccer practice, a subcompact with a weak engine won’t be any more fuel-efficient than something properly sized with more power.

Knowledge is power! Arm yourself with information before venturing into the lots of dealers. If a salesperson cannot answer your questions competently, ask for a supervisor.

Lastly, don’t purchase something you are not happy with. Who cares if you bought the greenest guy on the lot if it brings you no joy.