What happened to our desire for progress and self improvement?

"El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!" (lightningzone) 12/13/2014 at 10:52 • Filed to: None

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...and self healthiness, if we're there. Sure, fuel is cheap now, but it won't stay like that forever, the international market is as volatile as gasoline vapors on a hot day, in the desert. And then there's the exhaust fumes that aren't really good for you, even if they smell nice. I don't care about small improvements, smog is still an issue on both coasts.

A few days ago, a guy at work, was wondering why the sun wasn't really bright that day, even if forecasts said that it will be totally sunny.

Because you're driving a fucking Escalade, for your daily commute, that takes place mostly in a urban environment, asshole, that's why!! You go around in a car that weights as much as the fucking Grand Central Terminal, because "gas is so cheap nowadays and this car makes me feel safer brah". No shit? I guess you need that big car to keep you safe from things like pigeon shit and half eaten hot dogs, tourists throw away from taxi cabs, because they are too disgusting to finish.

Anyways, back to the bigger picture. In 1984, the average MPG of cars and trucks in America, was around 20. In 2004 it was 20.7. This year, in 2014 will be around 23MPG.

Are you fucking kidding me? 3MPG gain in 30 years? An improvement of 1 fucking MPG per decade? Why the hell we do all that brain drain for? Are we directing the smart people we steal from other countries towards achieving 50 flavors of Pop Tarts, rather than to achieving an avg. or 50MPG? Or maybe we're directing them towards weapons companies? Don't know, just asking.

Oh and here's a little graphic to show you where we stand and where we're hoping to go.

Unfortunately, that graphic is only for cars(no big trucks included), that's why it shows that we could get over 30MPG in 2015.

Richtofen, Baron von Pickup > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 11:06

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Great job alienating pretty much everyone with this post. People want more efficiency, they're buying more efficient vehicles. I see that every day on the road. Where do you derive the average economy from, a matrix of every vehicle made in the past year, including every engine and option? How that average is reached is extremely important because it affects the result (and what you take away from it).

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > Richtofen, Baron von Pickup 12/13/2014 at 11:32

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The 23MPG avg. is for the 2014 MY cars and trucks. Also if I alienated the warmongers, those who drive giant trucks in busy cities and those who think 50 flavors of Pop Tarts are better than 50MPG, I don't have a problem with it.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 11:48

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You do realize the VW XL1 is not "banned" in the US right? It has not been federalized because it would cost orders of magnitude more than what they would make trying to lease this. It would also require significant changes to meet our differing standards, even though the Euro NCAP tests for essentially the same things.

The cost to sell these would be hysterical, probably close to $300,000, and even then they would probably take a loss on every one.

While none of the technology is unfamiliar, it is not inexpensive to put all of it together to create that car.

JGrabowMSt > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 12:07

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That last graphic is quite possibly the most difficult one to follow I've ever seen.

Otherwise, I fully agree with all of your points.

Just give me an XL1 already.

Übel > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 12/13/2014 at 12:23

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Yes, that's exactly right, but the internet is full of brain-dead conspiracy nutters.

Outburst78 > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 12:24

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I'm probably a little jaded, but these are the conclusions I've drawn through half-educated guesses and probably-flawed logic about energy production and use in the U.S.:

1) As long as there is a drop of oil to sell, we will drill.

2) As long as there is natural gas underground to sell, we will frack.

3) We will not use any renewable resource until all non-renewable resources are used up and sold to the consumer at a premium.

4) The quicker a resource is used up by a consumer, the sooner they need to go buy more.

5) If a law prevents rich people from making more money, that law will more than likely be changed regardless of the negative impact it may have on consumers or the environment.

Basically, progress will be held back as long as possible while there is money to be made while maintaining the status quo. The only time progress is allowed is when the results of that progress can be harnessed for the purposes of making more money for the supplier, while maintaining or expanding the base of consumers with the express purpose of giving them the minimum amount of value for their investment without damaging their potential for future purchasing and consuming.

This is my understanding of capitalism. Not saying it's all bad, as it has contributed to making this country into a world power, but it is Kryptonite to the idea of pure progress. What we actually have is the bastardized form of progress stated above. I'm not that smart a person, so I don't have the faintest clue how to strike a better balance without contributing to unemployment or producing other unforeseen negative effects, but hopefully someone out there is working on it.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 12/13/2014 at 12:48

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Banned, illegal, just details. Two different approaches, one result. And this because we're too lazy to just sit down with the Europeans, and unify the damn safety and homologation rules. Like you said, many are quite similar, and safety organization in US and EU need to recognize themselves and their work, to make it easier for everyone.

The Nissan Twizy is another car that isn't sold here, just because the changes wouldn't pay off, as it is the current Alfa Giulietta, and that's really a pity.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 12:52

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The twizy isn't road legal as a car in the UK either. It's registered as a quadricycle I believe (same class as ATVs).

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 12:58

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You seem to have a problem with data analysis.

1984- 20 fucking mpg
2004- 20.7 fucking mpg
2014- 23 fucking mpg

In two decades, it improved by .7 fucking mpg. Then in one decade, it improved by 2.3 fucking mpg. That's called exponential growth. In a market in which half of new vehicle sales are trucks, in a culture where bigger is better because it shows you're better, that's a pretty big clue that there's a trend starting.

Great, you're on the alarmist bandwagon. Now try looking out the window to see where the wagon's going.

Richtofen, Baron von Pickup > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 13:02

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Knowing plenty of people who drive large trucks within and without the big city, I've yet to meet one who has places a priority on breakfast food flavors over improved technology. Take it easy on the hyperbole, but I get the point. I guess I don't see it the same way you do. Do keep in mind, limitations do exist for how efficient a combustion engine cam be without the price going through the roof. While it's easy to enhance an infotainment system every year and maintain a consistent price point, making more vehicle components out of lighter, stronger materials requires expensive (and non-renewable) resources. Lastly, consider the improvements in economy on many newer models; an average across a massive matric may show a small improvement, but one by one it's clear that there ARE better versions with much better efficiency.

Richtofen, Baron von Pickup > Outburst78 12/13/2014 at 13:05

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Oligarchy and corporatism =/= capitalism. Please don't mix the two. Free markets aren't evil, a lust for power and control is.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 12/13/2014 at 13:05

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Yes, but a way to put the car on the roads has been found, because it's for the common good and technological progress. But you won't find that kind of attitude around here. Rules are rules and all that shit. Unless you can afford a lobbying team, then you can get whatever you want, even if it is selfish and absurd.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 13:07

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I agree that Euro NCAP and US regulations should be unified, but in the specific case of the Twizy I disagree. They cant top 40 and are nowhere near as safe as even a smart fortwo, plus theyre heinously expensive. I wouldn't go near one.

Cé hé sin > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 13:12

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There are plans to harmonise EU and US regulations but there's little appetite to go ahead with it, mainly I suspect because the US authorities will never agree to anything invented elsewhere. What they want is for everyone else to use their rules.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 13:16

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Banned or illegal implies that it is or would be legal, but the powers that be have determined they would rather not allow people to have access to said object/service.

This car is neither. It is not federalized. There is an enormous difference.

There is no conspiracy surrounding the XL1 not being sold in the US. There is only the lack of a sound financial case to make enough to recover the cost of having the car tested to meet our safety standards.

I actually do not disagree with the large point you are trying to make here. We DO need access to more efficient vehicles. And one easy way would be to harmonize the varying safety standards and regulations across the world.

Sadly, this is unlikely to happen because 1) it actually makes sense and I have yet to see any Government do anything of the sort and, 2) while it would save corporations billions annually, it would also reduce those companies expenses paid to the government and various empowered organizations by the same amount. Ain't no Government going to give up a solid, and very large revenue stream.

coelacanthist > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 14:24

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What bothers me most is how these trucks are commonly driven. Massive torque and huge brakes seem to give people license to drive their house sized vehicle like a sports car. The comfortable and quiet cabs keep you insulated from the reality that you are being a danger to other motorists and looking like a huge tool. My favorite are the dbags with the tricked out diesels who leave you in a cloud of black smoke at every stop light, only to be sitting at the next light waiting to do it again.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > Outburst78 12/13/2014 at 14:42

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Driving a Cadillac Escalade ESV in New York, daily, doesn't have to do with capitalism, socialism or anything like that, it has a lot to do with being a lame, jerk with no confidence.

I told the guy that he should get a CTS wagon, because he only needs to tow shit like, once a year or so, and then he can rent a truck, but he said wagons are for wimps. I wanted to kick him in the balls. Also, his wife takes their stupid and annoying kids to school, in a Toyota Land Cruiser that has a 5.7 liter V8, a car mostly used by the UN, in places where roads are still a dream. Must be the biggest fucking car, in the school's parking lot.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > Richtofen, Baron von Pickup 12/13/2014 at 14:59

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I didn't say that the warmonger, the guy who drives a big truck in a busy city and the guy who thinks that Pop Tarts are more important than MPG is the same person, they just as well be 3 different people, but that's not the point.

And I have no problem if someone drives a truck in a city to do his job(even if he, sometimes, could do it in a more efficient way, with a van), I have a problem with all those limp dicked guys, who don't need a pick-up truck, but buy it just to look tough or to live their cowboy fantasy or whatever. All those macho motherfuckers who get trucks without needing them and then drive them around big cities, taking a lot of parking space and releasing more more CO2 than two normal cars or so.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > JGrabowMSt 12/13/2014 at 15:09

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Oh come on, it's piece of pie(without having a pie graphic, lol) I have to read(and sometimes do) graphics that are twice more complicated, at work.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 15:12

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If they sold more efficient cars in the states, it would affect Volt sales. Wouldn't want to shun the governments baby.

JGrabowMSt > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 15:16

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Well, that's all well and dandy, but I have issues telling certain colors apart when they're essentially right on top of each other or in close proximity.

Simple lines in more exaggerated colors would work a lot better. I know I'm a minority, but it's not the content representation, just my ability to accurately dissect it as presented.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 12/13/2014 at 15:19

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The fact that we've seen a little improvement in the last 10 years, bigger than the one we've seen in the last 20 years, is a good thing, no doubt about that. But that's still quite a slow pace, and only proves how inept and careless, both the automakers and the government were in the 80's and 90's, towards improving fuel economy.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 12/13/2014 at 15:31

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That wouldn't be a problem. You see, that's the beauty of progress, and the beauty of technological flagships. You launch a car with high tech. stuff, technologies that represent firsts, for you or whole the industry, and then you take those technologies, and filter them down to other cars in the lineup, and then you launch another technological flagships(or two, as Toyota will launch both a new Prius and the Mirai, soon). Technological flagships can be either on the performance front or the environmental front(I hope that soon we will have cars will do both(P1, LaFerrari and 918 don't really count, as less than 2000 people in the entire world own one of those)).

Anyways, It is a shame that the Government had to step in at GM, for them to finally launch a car that can challenge the Prius on efficiency.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 15:33

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But compared to other cars, they both are lacking. Look at all the clean diesels and hybrids the rest of the world gets, but we don't.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > JGrabowMSt 12/13/2014 at 15:35

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Well, to put it in a few words: if we reach the estimated goal of a 49.1MPG avg. in 2025, China will still be ahead of us with 1MPG, Japan with 6 and the EU with 11.5. I'm not counting Korea, Canada and Mexico because they only have prediction until 2015/2016. But like I said, if we reach that predicted 49.1, we will still be behind the EU, Japan and China.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 12/13/2014 at 15:53

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America doesn't really buy diesel, most of us think that it's still a fuel for big rigs. As for hybrids, we do get quite a lot. For example, the Camry and Highlander and the Avalon, and we have hybrids from Honda and Nissan and others. Europeans don't get as many hybrids, because the diesel thingy. Germans are starting to get in this hybrid game too, because of Le Mans, the Italians would, but they still need a more comfortable financial situation.

Anyways, the European, propulsion balance of power could actually change soon, France is getting ready to overtax diesels for being dirty, and this could give Lexus and it's strong hybrid lineup a boost there, increasing the chances of seeing a Lexus wagon, again.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 15:56

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But imagine the efficiency of a diesel hybrid, oh wait that exists.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 12/13/2014 at 16:04

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Well, I'm pretty sure that if France gets rid of diesels, republicans will embrace them, since they hate everything French, lol.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 16:12

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SWEET!

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 12/13/2014 at 16:26

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Don't get too excited, they won't allow diesel hybrids here, because the French came up with them.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 12/13/2014 at 17:32

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Nah dude, it was definitely the Brits: