Cars in Europe average about 52.5 miles per gallon.? Cars in the US average about 22.5 mpg.? That’s +/-30 mpg less than in Europe!? In Europe, they burn 285.7 gallons in 15,000 miles.? In the US, we burn 666.67 gallons in 15,000 miles.? That’s 380.95 gallons more than the Europeans burn.? ? If ten percent of our 290 million cars were like the European diesels, we would use 1,104.755 million less than we currently use WITHOUT changing our driving habits.? This would be in addition to savings realized in global warming and environmental damage caused by fossil fuels.
General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler produce fuel efficient diesel cars in Europe and have done so for many years.? Why can’t we have the same cars here?? There’s very little tooling? change involved since GM, Ford, and Chrysler are already producing these cars for Europe.? And while the Big 3 produce these same European style diesels for Americans, they can also work on alternate fuels, and alternate fuel cars.
Maybe in five to 10 years, GM, Ford, and Chrysler can get their acts together and catch up with Honda, Toyota, Citroen, Renault, Fiat, and Audi, in terms of fuel efficiency.
There are many people and many views on this subject.? Personally, I have driven some of these European cars in Italy and I was favorably impressed with the way they run, their comfort, and how efficient they are.? Look up the top ten? fuel efficient cars in Europe, and then look up the top ten fuel efficient cars here in the United States.
Another point — some people believe that Americans won’t buy small efficient cars, but in 2002, BMW estimated selling 25,000 Mini Coopers per year, and sold 54,000 in 2008.? Someone doesn’t mind driving smaller, fuel efficient cars!? However, there are only four car companies offering diesel cars in the United States.
We, in America, need to start demanding fuel efficient cars, such as the ones the Big 3 are ALREADY producing for Europe, and we need to also demand that MORE auto builders offer MORE diesel-fueled cars.? And while we’re at it, we need to insist on having the same more refined, cleaner, quieter quality diesel that the Europeans have been using for years!