“Technology, alone, cannot solve this question of how to reduce emissions from cars. Reducing CO2 emissions from cars should be a shared responsibility.” And there you have it: Wolfgang Hennig's rationale for urging the European Union (EU) to spend more of its members' tax dollars to teach drivers how to emit less C02 (via their car, not personally). Wards Auto reports that Ford of Europe's "eco-driving manager" isn't alone in this "why don't you pick on someone else for a change" strategy. "The European Automobile Manufacturers Assn. says eco-driving training can lead to an immediate reduction in fuel consumption of up to 25%." So.. we're talking about government intervention in how you drive your car? Uh-huh. "The EU is leaving it up to the individual governments to run their own voluntary schemes, which if successful could lead to the EC including rules and standards on eco-driving in future legislation." But… how? "Isuzu Motors Ltd. has a new range of commercial vehicles equipped with an onboard computer system that records the use of the accelerator, gearshift, brake and clutch. Data is downloaded into a laptop, showing each driver how they perform on the road and acting as the basis for tailored eco-driving lessons." There's more, but it freaks me out.
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Ford customer: Did I just get blamed for buying a Ford?
Ford salesperson: Yes, Sir. Global warming and climate change is your fault!
Ford customer: Thanks for your input(!)
Ford salesperson: Did you know that our quality is the same as Toyota?
Ford customer: Shut up!
So Ford can now churn out more SUV’s/ muscle cars/CUV’s and blame us for buying them!
Maybe Shell and BP will take us to court for using too much of their products….?
Just like it’s people, not guns, that kill people.
people would kill with or without guns… but without cars we wouldn’t be able to use co2 emmitting cars… so no, its not like that. People have been writting about it for years. The fact is the more fair and ideal life the less freedom you have. Personly i’d rather a warmer planet with old west shoot outs than being told how to drive and count on 911 to get police to my home timely enough
I am afraid that I agree with Ford on this one!
It is obviously the driver that is ultimately responsible for amount of CO2 emissions created, depending on how far he/she drives, how he/she drives and what he/she drives.
As “mikalac” pointed out the NRA always claims that “it’s people, not guns, that kill people” (although I do not personally agree with them for guns!).
As Maximum Bob liked to say “you cannot convince people to slim by only selling small size pants”! They have to be convinced that they want to slim themselves!
The only solution is higher gas prices!!!!
Some enviro-weenie beurocrat from Ford Europe spouting his view is a little different than Mulally, Farley, or Fields talking about this.
Net, I think the headline of this editorial is a little mis-leading….last I checked blaming people for buying a Ford is not the party line in Dearborn (nor should it be given their troubles)
Where does Ford “Blame Drivers for Greenhouse Gas Emissions” ??? From what I can see they are just suggesting another possible option and citing another way in which to help the environment. Give it a rest.
Actually, ever since Al Gore invented global warming, things have gotten better in the North East. I’m looking forward to the fruits of his labor. With any luck I’ll be living in a tropical paradise with beachfront property in 20 years.
There’s a certain logic to that… If we would just buy the cars and never drive them, they’d emit no CO2 at all. Wouldn’t that be great?
It would probably reduce repair and maintenance costs. Reduce but not elimibnate because, parked in the garage all day, those spontaneous combustion Fords would probably burn even more houses down. Whoa… doesn’t a burning house emit a lot of CO2? Okay… maybe this won’t be the big win I had imagined…
More seriously… does Ford think they can retrain everybody to drive in such a way that everybody reduces CO2 emissions by 25%? A national fleet CO2 emissions reduction of 25%? That seems improbable, to say the least.
On the other hand, there’s probably SOME advantage to rethinking one’s style. When I see red ahead, I IMMEDIATELY lift my foot off the gas (traffic permitting); there’s no point rushing to a red light. Sometimes, the light turns green before I arrive and I sail right through with no braking at all.
Saves fuel and brake components and doesn’t cost me any time. What’s not to love?
But many people don’t do this; people will tailgate me (that’s traffic NOT permitting) or, on a multi-lane road, they’ll rocket by me, only to hit the brakes pretty hard 100 yards up the road. Why not let up?
You do stay out of the left lane to avoid clogging up the passing lane, correct?
A lot of people are driving 20,000 miles a year now. You can’t blame the car makers for that. And as KixStart mentioned, a lot of people are really wasteful drivers.
Quasimondo,
I might be in the left lane but it’s not to clog it up.
screw eco driving
they need to come to America and teach plain old regular “not driving like a moron” driving.
All else being equal, full-throttle acceleration is more fuel efficient than granny acceleration, because you get into high gear sooner. I’ve tested this myself, as have others at places like gassavers.org.
I think this is an important part of the fuel and emission equation. My auto mechanics teacher and driving instructor would both talk about how driving style can affect mileage.
I remember a story about a celebrity who had a hybrid along with his wife. He complained of poor fuel economy compared to his wife’s vehicle. He took the vehicle to his service department and they could find nothing wrong. While his car was in for service he drove his wife’s car and had the same mileage.
There are several factors that contribute to mileage but many people forget to consider their driving technique.
I’m sure the enviro-conscious EU will figure that the only practical way to limit CO2 emissions is through gas rationing/elimination. Can you say black market?
Full throttle acceleration is the most efficient way of accelerating provided that you are in as high of a gear as possible for your car/engine. Maximum acceleration is not fuel efficient, as it involves high revs/low gears.
Hyperbole is one of the reasons I enjoy reading this blog, but I think you can tone down the rhetoric a bit. The auto industry doesn’t want to be the scapegoat for global warming, and putting some resources behind educating people on how to drive more efficiently is probably money well-spent. It doesn’t negate Ford’s responsibility to develop more efficient, less CO2 belching vehicles, nor does it negate the government’s responsibility to regulate CO2. As Hennig said, it’s a “shared responsibility.” Sounds pretty rational to me.
What? Are you guys seriously saying that full throttle acceleration gets improved gas mileage over granny driving all else being equal? Stop it guys. Seriously, that’s dumb.
In the city, a lot of extra gas gets used, and a lot of people are delayed because people drive stupid. For ex: people who when turning left, don’t go into the intersection, so that if they hve to wait until the light changes to make the turn, they’re the only ones that can make the turn. People who turn left from a one lane in each direction road, and don’t pull as far to the left as they can while they wait for a break in traffic. ETc.
I’m not against teaching people to drive so that they use less gas. In fact, I thikn it’s a good idea to at least encourage them. But I think the problem of stupid city drivers is worse, becuase not only does it increase fuel, it increases traffic, and tempers.
Qusus, yes — you’re welcome to get an ODBII or injector pulse logger and try it yourself. Note we’re talking only about throttle under acceleration; “all else being equal” includes shift points, top speed, deceleration, etc (and each of those probably have a bigger effect on mileage). And note, as Lumbergh21 pointed out, that full throttle acceleration is not the same as maximum acceleration.