Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolferz
In the late fifties and early sixties, they used their overwhelming supply of cash to shoot down fuel injection. Effectively delaying its adoption for another twenty years. They loved the fact that carbureted motors sucked gasoline and hated the fact that fuel injection was way too efficient. So, they paid off the big three to shelve the fuel injection. But much to their chagrin, that train had already left the station when big oil got big greedy.
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Not sure where you got your information on this claim. The reality is that "Big Oil" spent a LOT of money buying up patents and IP for carburetor modifications. I personally know a guy who got a REALLY BIG check because he modified a carb to where he could get nearly 100 Miles per gallon. Granted - new oil cracking caused him problems - but there is a reason why auto manufacturers got rid of carburation. Really - think back - what was the average MPG in the and 80's - and then in 2005? Not much of a difference, though it was in the mid 80's that carburation started going away.
Fuel injection didn't increase "efficiency". They allow for "dirtier fuel" to be used (thus the requirement for catalytic converters in cars to keep excess crap from coming through exhausts). We no longer "skim" process oil, now they "crack" the oil to get fuel in refining. This creates a difficulty for carburation.
The reality is that fuel efficiency in cars could be greatly increased. It does have to do with profits for "big oil" - but it also collusion by the government and big auto.
Electric in the long term will NOT be the future.
In time - mark my words - hydrogen will be the fuel of choice. Probably somewhere by 2025 or 2030.
The issues on Hydrogen is infrastructure and stability right now. It takes about 5M$ to build a fuel station for Hydrogen, and who is going to invest that before cars hit the road? Who will buy the car when there is no fuel station?
There stability issue is coming up with a standard format for fuel and use. That will come as the makers work closer to a standard all are willing to adopt.