So, you like running B100 in your PD huh?

Fixmy59bug

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2009
Location
Las Vegas, NV
TDI
2015 Passat TDI SE
Before we can impose higher fuel taxes, like Europe; we MUST have a much better public transportation system, like Europe.

Without that, many people would lose their job because they couldn't afford to drive and the public transport infrstructure just isn't there. You think our economy is bad now (albiet slightly starting a recovery)? Impose a european fuel tax and see where we all go.
 

manual_tranny

Smyth Performance- Intern
Joined
Jan 5, 2010
Location
New Bedford, MA
TDI
2001 Golf @182K; 2000 Jetta @290K
... Makes me want a fuel tax more and more. Get the people who can't afford to drive, (or purchase insurance, or maintain their vehicle, etc.) off the road! Encourage people walking and taking bicycles more! To stop taking their Suburbans 100 miles to work and consider buying a TDI. Put taxes into public transportation! Put them into magnetic electricity generation under higher-quality highways near cities. Fix the bridges and roads that keep failing in the Midwest. We should be paying higher taxes, because we're not even keeping up with our existing infrastructure. I am normally libertarian, but I love driving and I believe roads should be safe, 'green', and productive for those who can afford to travel on them safely. Lots of states let drivers get away with driving twisted/half wrecked cars around... if those people couldn't afford gas cause the tax was getting expensive, great.

Double the taxes, I'm getting 45-63mpg! :D
 

aja8888

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Location
Texas..RETIRED 12/31/17
TDI
Out of TDI's
... Makes me want a fuel tax more and more. Get the people who can't afford to drive, (or purchase insurance, or maintain their vehicle, etc.) off the road! Encourage people walking and taking bicycles more! To stop taking their Suburbans 100 miles to work and consider buying a TDI. Put taxes into public transportation! Put them into magnetic electricity generation under higher-quality highways near cities. Fix the bridges and roads that keep failing in the Midwest. We should be paying higher taxes, because we're not even keeping up with our existing infrastructure. I am normally libertarian, but I love driving and I believe roads should be safe, 'green', and productive for those who can afford to travel on them safely. Lots of states let drivers get away with driving twisted/half wrecked cars around... if those people couldn't afford gas cause the tax was getting expensive, great.

Double the taxes, I'm getting 45-63mpg! :D
OMG!!!:eek::eek:
 

LiLredTDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2008
Location
maryland
TDI
2004 jetta tdi pd-1989 Jetta IDI-1994 F-250 IDI Turbo
Look past your hemp birkinstocks.

Read all of theese pages and still shaking my head in disbelievement and disgust.

Let's make this clear..............THERE IS NO TRULY VIABLE ALT FUEL IN MASS!!!

If you want to have a "feel good" by paying 4+ dollars per gallon or paying extra for off grid alt energy be my guest. Or spending countless hours to collect, make, and dispose of the waste from WVO.

I would like nothing more to have the cash to buy a new piece of land with a stream for hydro power and open space for a wind turbine and solar panels and build a much more efficient home.

I make decent money and live quite frugaly, but can not afford ONE of the above options, let alone a few.

Keep in mind along with the panels and turbines you need a battery room as well.

As a whole for now if people would downgrade to smaller cars (if possibile), consolidate trips, use public transportation if available, turn off the lights and other electric devices, we would be alot better off.

Fod gods sake there are still alot of places that do not have recycling or if they do many folks are reluctant to use them.

That is like living in the dark ages.

For all the money our government wastes promoting alt energy you would think the alt energy tax credits would be better.

Let's also keep in mind all of this battery brew ha-ha is not all that great ot "The Way" either. Batteries are made from heavy metals that are hazzardous to dispose of and the raw materials are not plentiful.

World bankers, large energy companies, car manfacturers and politicians are the reason alt energy is largely unavailable and unaffordable.

Really. It is just that simple. No need to think outside of the box, let good ole fashioned common sense be your guide.

On topic; I have a 2004 PD and had I known before what I know now I would have bought a 2003 ALH.
 
Last edited:

Fixmy59bug

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2009
Location
Las Vegas, NV
TDI
2015 Passat TDI SE
ManTran,

I was very tempted to play D.A. as well. But I didn't think the intended sarcasm (humor) would come across right.

I was going to say, let them double the taxes, that will make the roads clear for those of us who could afford to drive. Rush hour time would be cut dramatically... LOL.

Now I wish I would have said it.....

Although I will truthfully agree with you about one thing. These states that allow the rattle/death/rust traps on the road need to wake up. Ca (for example) does not have annual inspections. It has bi-annual smog tests, and even those can be bought if you know someone. So there could be thousands of cars around that would immediately fail a NY inspection for any thousands of numbers of reasons rolling next to you at any given time and you would never know it.

I think we do need a standardized federal inspection system so a car that is safe (and legal) in one state complies with all states.
 

rallyruss

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2006
Location
Bay Area CA
TDI
98 TDI jetta, 05 passat wagon
I don't think I can adequately express my gratefulness for you providing some fact for this discussion.

To confirm, the feedstock is WVO soy. What do you mean by 3 t or lower?

Can you give us an idea of the condition of the oil? How often the fryer oil is changed? Fryer temperatures? Type of restaurant? How acidic is the oil before you process it into biodiesel?

I am interested in what led you to discover the problem with the injectors. Was it a no start condition? Do you know if this caused any collateral damage to the engine?

Thanks again for divulging the details, it helps all of us improve.
Back to the injectors at hand......

I too am curious as to what symptoms the car had prior to pulling the injectors.
 

Lug_Nut

TDIClub Enthusiast, Pre-Forum Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 20, 1998
Location
Sterling, MA. USA
TDI
2015 GSW 6M in S trim the other oil burners: 1967 two stroke Sonett 1988 Bolens DGT1700
Let's make this clear..............THERE IS NO TRULY VIABLE ALT FUEL IN MASS!!!

If you want to have a "feel good" by paying 4+ dollars per gallon or paying extra for off grid alt energy be my guest. Or spending countless hours to collect, make, and dispose of the waste from WVO.

I would like nothing more to have the cash to buy a new piece of land with a stream for hydro power and open space for a wind turbine and solar panels and build a much more efficient home.
..in Massachusetts, or did you mean "en mass", in total or in the aggregate?
You are quite correct that there is no one single alternative energy source that can completely replace each and every one of the traditional energy sources now used. Try flying a nuclear powered aircraft? But there is no reason that one alternative can't be used to supplant, if not totally replace, a similar non-renewable one.

I don't 'feel good' about paying more, and I'm personally willing to pay up to 50% more if needed, for B100. But all a higher pump price does is reduces my driving miles. My annual dollar expenditure for fuel actually goes down because I drive fewer miles when my fuel is more expensive. A main reason I don't bicycle commute more frequently is that for the past 8 months or so local B100 has been pump priced less than ULSD.
So don't raise the fuel tax, leave it pegged at some flat rate per gallon regardless of price, but include all the taxes.
The fine levied against Exxon for the Valdez incident has been all but voided by appeals. Put that re-imbursement on the pump price.
US military actions to prop up oil suppliers? Put that in the pump price.
Lost work productivity hospitalization expenses, from pollution related respiratory ailments, Add that.

My own plans for a pico-hydro have been dashed. My upstream neighbor has tapped the stream for his lawn irrigation. The 200 or so GPM flow I formerly had has been reduced to about 2 GPM. My fish pond is now a muddy puddle.:(
 

milehighassassin

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 18, 2005
Location
Fort Collins, CO
TDI
2005 Golf TDi PD, Reflex Silver
The Mk4 PD has a known cam issue, but even replacing cams/lifters every belt interval in a mk4 (who's to say replacement cams will fail the same) is not an insurmountable maintenance expense considering the proven longevity of the model, especially by a dedicated owner.

I would say there are far more PD/BEW's that don't have the cam issue than those that do have it.

There have been some cases but really not that many. My PD with 135k miles has no issues.
 

dalchri

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Location
Muncy, PA
TDI
99 Beetle
What problem do you speak of will be solved
Complacency.

If you think renewable fuels are too expensive right now, while we still have cheap petroleum, where precisely do you think all this is going?

Do you think renewable fuels will become cost comparable through efficiency gains?

Do you think renewable fuels will become cost comparable through advances in technology?

We are going to need some petroleum to make the transition to renewable fuel. Should we just wait until the cost of petroleum rises until renewable fuels become cost comparable and hope there is enough left to make the transition?

What is your solution to the unsustainable situation we are in?
 

Riley

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2009
Location
Texas
TDI
1996 Passat B4V
Instead of raising fuel tax, how about a variable tax (or credit) based on vehicle weight, fuel mileage, engine size or something like that? People who can afford to drive Hummers should be able to afford higher annual taxes on it, right? If it's a small SUV or car, they get lower taxes. Would that persuade the masses towards smaller cars? I'm sure some states already do that.
 

Bkcorso

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2006
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
TDI
2001 Golf
Too many off topic remarks, even the OP abandoned it.

Anyone know the typical injector lifespan on these ?
Whats the mileage the manufacture recommends replacement ?
 

thebigarniedog

Master of the Obvious
Joined
Oct 14, 2007
Location
Fail Command (Central Ohio)
TDI
1998 Jetta tdi
Complacency.

If you think renewable fuels are too expensive right now, while we still have cheap petroleum, where precisely do you think all this is going?

Do you think renewable fuels will become cost comparable through efficiency gains?

Do you think renewable fuels will become cost comparable through advances in technology?

We are going to need some petroleum to make the transition to renewable fuel. Should we just wait until the cost of petroleum rises until renewable fuels become cost comparable and hope there is enough left to make the transition?

What is your solution to the unsustainable situation we are in?
Go back and read my post and watch the video. This can be done now with available technology and without having to tax everyone to death. Why is it that the solution for some always has to be more of my money in some politicians' hands? :mad:
 

ikendu

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2003
Location
Iowa
TDI
2003 Golf Indigo Blue
Think about the wide variety of opinion expressed on this thread. Think it will be easy to change? I don't. More and more, I'm coming to believe that it will take a catastrophic event to make change possible. Too bad. It would be much nicer to plan ahead. But... seems unlikely.
 
Last edited:

thebigarniedog

Master of the Obvious
Joined
Oct 14, 2007
Location
Fail Command (Central Ohio)
TDI
1998 Jetta tdi
Think about the wide variety of opinion expressed on this thread. Think it will be easy to change? I don't. More and more, I'm coming to believe that it will take a catastrohic event to make change possible. Too bad. It would be much nicer to plan ahead. But... seems unlikely.

Because radicals throw out the "good" for the "perfect" and are incapable of compromise. I think about cynical people that look at disasters as opportunities to impose their agenda upon others who are already struggling; I think about all the dipsh*ts at CARB that have sanctioned 15mpg vehicles such as the Explorer, the Surburban, the Hummer, the Tahoe, the Expedition, the Pilot and a whole host of other "CARB certified" vehicles while blocking the tdi mk4 generation and limiting diesels across the Board that would make a huge difference in helping our environment and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. I find it amazing how they can't understand that fuel just doesn't magically show up at the gas station and that a proper measurement is the entire process from ground to vehicle instead of from station nozzle to vehicle.

I look at the colossal failure of our educational system wherein people actually thank CARB for doing this :confused: to us. I think about States that are exploring taxing miles driven to continue their revenue streams. Yes, you may be a true believer, but I am a pragmatist.

A small diesel engine mandate would eliminate oil imports from the Middle East. That can be done now, with available technology and without a disaster or radical change. CARB and others are blocking this --- so why are they in bed with Big Oil Ikendu? See how that works?

The problem with politicians is that rather then address the problem (i.e. make the tough decisions), they would rather continue the status quo and provide lip service to the willing idiots out there who want to accept that the solution is class warfare and additional taxation .....
 

aja8888

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Location
Texas..RETIRED 12/31/17
TDI
Out of TDI's
If "low income people" can't afford fuel then are they able to maintain a vehicle to safe standards and afford insurance?
Most "low income" people around here (and there are MILLIONS of them), can buy insurance by the month (they typically by one month:rolleyes:) and don't care much about safe standards. Plus, increasing fuel cost probably won't get them off the road in big numbers.:p
 

ikendu

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2003
Location
Iowa
TDI
2003 Golf Indigo Blue
The solution (as I posted in other threads) is a diesel mandate not more punitive taxation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBKDLJUevrY
A small diesel engine mandate would eliminate oil imports from the Middle East. That can be done now...
As a person that enjoys their diesel vehicle a lot, I love that Audi ad with the barrels rolling backward. Thanks for posting the YouTube link to the commercial!

The ad says that if 1/3 of Americans would adopt clean diesel we could save 1.5 million barrels of fuel every day (mb/d). In 2009 the imports from the Middle East were about 1.7 mb/d. http://www.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbblpd_a.htm

Since we import about 11.7 mb/d we'd still be importing 10 mb/d. At today's price ($79/b), we'd be sending about $288 billion/yr outside the U.S. If you use the summer 2008 pre-recession usage (12.9 - 1.7 = 11.2) and the price at the time ($130/b) that'd be $531 billion/yr. Your first post uses the phrase "the solution".

Let's say that it really is... "the solution".

...I am a pragmatist.
What form would your diesel mandate take and how would you get it passed into law?
 
Last edited:

thebigarniedog

Master of the Obvious
Joined
Oct 14, 2007
Location
Fail Command (Central Ohio)
TDI
1998 Jetta tdi
As a person that enjoys their diesel vehicle a lot, I love that Audi ad with the barrels rolling backward. Thanks for posting the YouTube link to the commercial!

The ad says that if 1/3 of Americans would adopt clean diesel we could save 1.5 million barrels of fuel every day (mb/d). In 2009 the imports from the Middle East were about 1.7 mb/d. http://www.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbblpd_a.htm

Since we import about 11.7 mb/d we'd still be importing 10 mb/d. At today's price ($79/b), we'd be sending about $288 billion/yr outside the U.S. If you use the summer 2008 pre-recession usage (12.9 - 1.7 = 11.2) and the price at the time ($130/b) that'd be $531 billion/yr. Your first post uses the phrase "the solution".

Let's say that it really is... "the solution".


What form would your diesel mandate take and how would you get it passed into law?

If 1/3 used clean diesel ..... what if that number was 80%? Getting it passed into law? Audi took the first step with that commercial. Closest thing I have ever seen to an energy policy from either party. A diesel mandate can be supplied to manufacturing and consumer's via a tax credit of "x" and a freeze and roll back to 2006 standards of all diesel emission regulations for the next 15 years. Since we gave 50 billion to GM and Chrysler, this can be done.

Now I recognize you side stepped my other points and want to nit pick specifics. So have at ignoring the good for the perfect .....
 

ikendu

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2003
Location
Iowa
TDI
2003 Golf Indigo Blue
Now I recognize you side stepped my other points and want to nit pick specifics. So have at ignoring the good for the perfect .....
Sorry (really). I thought your main point was that a diesel mandate was the solution.

Your diesel mandate idea is a tax credit for diesel purchases and roll back emissions to 2006 for 15 years... yes?
 
Last edited:

dalchri

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Location
Muncy, PA
TDI
99 Beetle
Go back and read my post and watch the video.
I read the post and watched the video. I think it is a good idea. You do highlight part of the problem. I feel that the auto industry is regulated to the point that it is almost illegal to build anything other than what is on the road today. From safety standards to emissions to individuals making fuel at home, we are pigeon holed in the status quo by regulation.

I agree that radicals have much to do with this. I sort of cringe every time that someone says the word green because I think we are going to have to compromise green to become sustainable. And sustainable is my goal, not green, not even really energy independence, and clearly not economy.

But mandating small diesel engines doesn't get us off non-renewable fuel that I can see. It does get us an efficiency gain, which is part of the solution, but still on (non-renewable) petroleum.

Part of the engrainment of petroleum in our culture is illustrated by the fact that you think taxing existing fuel means that we have to put money in pollitians hands. Um, no we don't. We don't have to use non-renewable fuels. If you look far enough down the road, we won't be able to use non-renewable fuels.

Do you see any other way, assuming you accept the goal of renewable fuels as valid, to get off non-renewable fuel other than sticker shock?

If not, then the only question is do we let it play out and hope for the best or do we plan for it?
 

milehighassassin

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 18, 2005
Location
Fort Collins, CO
TDI
2005 Golf TDi PD, Reflex Silver
If 1/3 used clean diesel ..... what if that number was 80%? Getting it passed into law? Audi took the first step with that commercial. Closest thing I have ever seen to an energy policy from either party. A diesel mandate can be supplied to manufacturing and consumer's via a tax credit of "x" and a freeze and roll back to 2006 standards of all diesel emission regulations for the next 15 years. Since we gave 50 billion to GM and Chrysler, this can be done.

Now I recognize you side stepped my other points and want to nit pick specifics. So have at ignoring the good for the perfect .....

I wouldn't say we "gave" $50b to GM and Chrysler, it was technically a loan, money which has been paid back and the rest will come in the form of the IPO of the new stock.

Giving GM that money was easy because of what it would have done to the world wide economy and auto production if they did go under. I don't want to change the subject to bailout vs no bailout but the same circumstances do no exist for the diesel mandate argument.
 

Drivbiwire

Zehntes Jahr der Veteran
Joined
Oct 13, 1998
Location
Boise, Idaho
TDI
2013 Passat TDI, Newmar Ventana 8.3L ISC 3945, 2016 E250 BT, 2000 Jetta TDI
Can you guys start another thread so this one does not go off into nowhere land?
 

fnjimmy!

Chucklechump
Joined
Apr 11, 2009
Location
Tacoma, WA
TDI
TDIdiot
I wouldn't say we "gave" $50b to GM and Chrysler, it was technically a loan, money which has been paid back
I guess that depends on your definition of "paid back". GM made their big announcement in April about paying back their TARP loan early, with interest, running TV spots etc. What they didn't say was that they "paid back" their TARP loan by withdrawing money from another TARP account, so in essence, we the taxpayers paid those loans back ourselves, with our own money.
 

thebigarniedog

Master of the Obvious
Joined
Oct 14, 2007
Location
Fail Command (Central Ohio)
TDI
1998 Jetta tdi
If "low income people" can't afford fuel then are they able to maintain a vehicle to safe standards and afford insurance?
Energy taxes are destructive in that they have direct and indirect consequences. Unlike the goberment, responsible people are forced to make choices with what money they have. Ya just can't keep borrowing and spending without a plan of repayment --- the bank frowns on that behavior. When you raise taxes, I have less money to spend. Imposing a gas/fuel and energy taxes has direct and indirect consequences. If gas is $2.50 a gallon, maybe a vacation out of State for a family with kids. If gas is $5.00 per gallon, maybe an in State vacation and maybe that vacation never happens. Keep in mind that you pay more then just when you fill up. You also pay more for the food and goods that are delivered to your shopping centers. Again, it is more then just the price you see at a gas station.

When that vacation does not happen, people that work in those hotels, attractions, restaurants etc lose their jobs. It's a vicious circle. Now I recognize you want to isolate the question into a "safety issue". You bet, service entities are pressured. If you have to pay more to heat and cool your garage; more to have parts delivered via fedex/UPS and more for your electricity your prices are going up and when prices go up, customers prolong service to eat. If people do not pay for insurance, everyone else that pays, pays more to cover their arseclownery.

I wouldn't say we "gave" $50b to GM and Chrysler, it was technically a loan, money which has been paid back and the rest will come in the form of the IPO of the new stock.

Giving GM that money was easy because of what it would have done to the world wide economy and auto production if they did go under. I don't want to change the subject to bailout vs no bailout but the same circumstances do no exist for the diesel mandate argument.
So the money that was taken from the stock holders was paid back when? (Let me know so I can check my mailbox for it).

I guess that depends on your definition of "paid back". GM made their big announcement in April about paying back their TARP loan early, with interest, running TV spots etc. What they didn't say was that they "paid back" their TARP loan by withdrawing money from another TARP account, so in essence, we the taxpayers paid those loans back ourselves, with our own money.
The scary thing is that they really thought that people were that stupid (some apparently are). They screwed everyone from parts suppliers all the way down to current customers when they walked away from the expenses owed to build the vehicles they then sold at the same price. I do not like to say that I will never do something again ..... but their bankruptcy is like the perfect ending for me
 

beanpoleagain

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2010
Location
angier nc
TDI
05 golf bew
drivby started this thread to inform people of the potental problems of bio and pd vw, i wish this post would have been around three years ago. i might not have had to have my injectors rebuilt becuase i might have gone anoughter way with and older more tolerent vehical. i,m back to see what comment have been made about the original post and am lost in the tax no tax green not green debate. let me say this, build something, earn a living stop out sorceing so the top dog can get rich and be responible for you own actions and accountable for you inactions hold your politicians accountable for up holding constitution and stop winning about paying your dues. we have road schools police forces fire departments, librarys, hospital and the like. if you dont want to pay taxes move to a third world country. just remember the more we pay people to to nothing the more nothing we are going to get. nothing is free and you have no right to anything that you have not earned and payed for.
no work no eat
john smith

with that said please start a new thread
 
Last edited:

beanpoleagain

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2010
Location
angier nc
TDI
05 golf bew
Back to the injectors at hand......

I too am curious as to what symptoms the car had prior to pulling the injectors.
my waste oil is farly good low use and change weekly 3 t is the tiltration number of the oil new soy would be 0 t anything over 10 ish would need to be acid treated first but i do have a freind that has done grease trap crap 55 t and made good fuel with a lot of work. as for problem i was getting injector duration excedes limit cel car still ran good and i was still getting 42 mpg down from about 46 when i started 3 yrs ago and down from 48- 50 on diesel. as far as i can tell iam not get any oil contamination my intake and egr is only black film and not sooty build up and wiped clean with bio and a rag. i spend about 5 hour a week to / collect/make 80-100 gals
 

Drivbiwire

Zehntes Jahr der Veteran
Joined
Oct 13, 1998
Location
Boise, Idaho
TDI
2013 Passat TDI, Newmar Ventana 8.3L ISC 3945, 2016 E250 BT, 2000 Jetta TDI
Here is the issue as I see it.

Conventional "Fuels" are too cheap...still. There is enough petroleum and the cost is such that people WILL NOT spend more to use an alternative energy source.

I am of the opinion that the solution is Bio-GTL aka Synthetic high grade diesel fuel produced ENTIRELY from Biomass. 75-80 cetane, 0% sulfur, ZERO running issues in any modern and future diesel engines permitting lower emissions that what are possible today.

But why havent they started producing this fuel in mass? People won't pay $5 a gallon when they can get fuel for $3 a gallon.

People can put the conspiracy theories away and need to put on a business hat for a bit.

Oil companies are there to produce one thing, fuel that the market will support (ie Buy).

There is no reason for an oil company to jump in feet first and produce $5 fuel when everybody else is selling fuel that does the same thing for $3.

Being that I am primarily in the aviation industry I know for a fact that Bio-Jetfuel is coming and will be in use before it reaches the automotive industry. Unlike the automotive industry a uniform product with very unique qaulities is a BIG deal. Also the volume of fuel consumed in aviation allows for the incentive to invest in the infrastructure required to produce these synthetic fuels from Biomass.

The US Government has been spending BILLIONS $$$ to nail down the standards for these Biofuels and this came back when Bush was in office. The Democrats (hate to push this in any one direction or another) carry the full blame for derailing diesel technology in the US via CARB and California. The issue is the threat of reducing the tax revenues from the more efficient cars disguised as "clean" emissions laws.

All these people are chanting for electric cars but rest assured the taxes they will pay based on the proposed schemes will be TRIPLE what they are paying now for diesel powered cars. The Tax per mile when you take into account the "Kw" consumed will translate into no less than a THREE FOLD TAX INCREASE.

If you drive an electric car, you WILL be taxed per mile. Maybe not at first, but as they take to the road the CARB states (who are pushing these the most) will get you.

All you have to do is ask how these cars will be taxed in respect to road taxes. You won't pay at some meter or outlet but for every single inch that you drive down the road.

If you really want a solution, shift the taxes so that everybody pays per unit of energy consumed. Think about this for a minute, a more efficient car (read one that travels further on less consumed energy) will not impose as much wear and tear on the roads. Sure this will reduce the tax revenues but it will also force the 8.0L V8's to pay their fair share for the 8,000# of damage they do to the roads. This will also force a shift to smaller lighter vehicles thus improving the congestion and increasing the efficient use of available space cars take up in the city and urban areas.

Look at the VW 1L concept, this is a glimpse of where the future of cars need to go, no batteries required!
 
Top