Impose new fuel standards
RV owners are concerned about Congress imposing new fuel standards on manufacturers.
I appreciate their concern about downsizing engines, but I beg to suggest that that is not the only logical conclusion.
I call their attention to the rapid engineering feats of WW II. Auto manufacturers switched to building airplanes which were then quickly improved almost daily from slow planes to those that could fly twice and three times faster. They could carry much more armament, fly higher and with much greater range! Engines increased in horsepower an unbelievable short time! Newly designed planes were on the flight line seemingly days after blueprints were made!
In the auto industry in recent years we have progressed from magnetos to generators to alternators, improved suspension, all-wheel drive, and electronic ignition eliminated points. Dwell meters and point files are a thing of the past. Great advancements have been made in braking systems, upholstery, electric windows and door locks, remote controls, and a host of other engineering feats.
However, absolutely no effort seems to have been made to improve gas consumption. In my opinion, a full-sized car should now be getting 50 to 80 miles per gallon without loss of horsepower or reduction of total vehicle weight.
My suspicion is that auto manufacturing companies and petroleum companies have been controlling and restricting our miles per gallon. Being only a consumer, I have little influence, so it is with delight that the federal lawmakers are at least thinking about soaring gas prices!
Perhaps the foreign auto MPG will awaken our car makers to finally directing some of our superior American engineering skills toward our getting farther on a gallon of gas.
Fred Battles
Chanceford Township
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