Pielorinho said:
Check out http://www.snopes2.com/autos/business/magiccar.htm
-- about two-thirds down this page, there's a pretty convincing refutation of this theory. Most importantly, the auto companies have nothing to gain by keeping such an engine off the market -- they don't sell gas. And if such an engine were placed on the market, the US would be less dependent on the Middle East for energy supplies, something the government would dearly like.
Check it out!
Daniel
I read the linked article, and there are several important facts to bear in mind:
1) I'm not referring to a car that gets 200 mpg...or even 50. Just one that can efficiently run on a clean fuel like ethyl alcohol, electricity, solar energy, etc.
2) The auto companies have a
TON to gain by not making a switch to such vehicles (if they do exist). Darn near every single facet of their engine and exhaust production lines would have to be entirely redesigned and re-tooled. That, my friend, is not a cheap proposition. Additionally, what do you think the market for all of the cars currently in production and on the dealership lots will be? How about used vehicles returned after leases expire? Don't forget, that I'm from Detroit as my profile notes. I have a friends and family that work for the Big Three, and they
fear such a massive change coming to pass all at once.
3) The cost increased initial cost of producing such cars would either:
a. need to be passed on to the comsumers, who would then buy fewer vehicles because fewer folks could afford 'em.
OR
b. be partially absorbed by the automakers themselves (fat chance), thus lowering their profit margins and causing their stock value to decline.
As for the government not wishing to rely on Middle Eastern nations for oil -- I agree, and said so in my original post. But there are HUGE American oil companies (and their related businesses) which contribute millions of dollars each year to political campaigns through PAC's. They could not afford to witness such a sweeping change, and will obviously invest every penny they have to prevent such an eventuality. Self preservation is a pretty big motivator.
P.S. one last item of note in my little diatribe
. Two of our last three Presidents have come from a state whose economic well-being is largely reliant on the oil industry.