(Image source: Pixabay)
We love our cars, don’t we? They give a sense of freedom and the thrill of controlling all that horse power. It’s the cowboy spirit that still lingers in all of us – the liberation that comes with knowing we can hop into the car and take off for wherever whenever we want. But you just don’t get that sense with electric cars. Not to worry, though. Gas powered cars aren’t going anywhere, and here’s why.
Money Matters
Volvo mad a big announcement last year that the company intended to move away from production of gas powered cars. But it hasn’t really happened. Basically, the internal combustion engine is just about the best technology imaginable for cars, so gas powered cars will be around for a long time yet. Besides, there are some pretty significant money matters to consider.
More Expense with Electric Cars
As with all new products based on new technologies, electric cars were very expensive in the beginning. Usually, though, as these new products/technologies become mainstream and grow in production, they become more affordable. But that hasn’t really been the case with electric cars.
(Image source: Pixabay)
An obviously key component in electric cars is the battery, often a lithium ion battery. But production costs for these batteries (and the cars they are in) haven’t seen much of a price reduction as production has increased. What this means is that the cost to produce electric cars has not reached the point where it needs to be for mass market sales.
More Profit in Gas Powered Cars
Gas powered cars also aren’t going anywhere because they are just too profitable. Tesla hasn’t yet been able to report an annual profit while traditional car manufacturers are raking in billions by selling millions of gas powered cars every year. Even the most promising in the newer electric cars – the Chevy Bolt and the Tesla Model 3 – will lose their makers money in the early stages. In short, no company has figured out how to make a profit by selling only electric cars.
More Power and Better Mileage
Fairly recent advances in in fuel efficiency, power, and lower emissions also ensure gas powered cars aren’t going anywhere. These advances mean that you can still drive your car and help the environment and save money while lessening our dependence on foreign oil. Here are a couple of examples . . .
Advances in Fuel Injection
Fuel injection was a huge leap forward in the evolution of gas powered auto engines, resulting in both increased power and fuel efficiency. New advances in fuel injection have the potential to now increase engine compression from a ratio of 10/1 to 14/1. The upshot is a 12% increase in engine efficiency, and some cars may be able to achieve 70 miles per gallon.
Cylinder Deactivation on the Near Horizon
Depending on, say, the grade of the road or the load hauled, a car will need differing amounts of fuel and power. For tough jobs, your car will need full fuel capacity and the power of all cylinders. But when the job is easier – for example, cruising at a constant speed along a straight and level interstate – your car may not need the power of all six or eight cylinders. Cylinder deactivation would temporarily disable some of the cylinders when their added power isn’t needed. Estimates are that this technology can increase fuel efficiency by 7.5%.
(Image source: Pixabay)
Don’t feel guilty, then, about about filling up your car with fossil fuel and taking off on a trip of hundreds of miles. Millions of other people are doing the same thing and for good reasons. Just enjoy the feeling of freedom and power under the hood. It’s still the best way to get where you want to go.