re: #414 Bagua

Safety and pollution control rules have put the kibosh on that idea.

Safety yes, but not pollution. A 2005 diesel Jetta TDI develops pretty fantastic mileage (north of 40 IIRC), and it’s pulling 3200 pounds of weight, seats five confortably, and has no hybrid powertrain. You could EASILY get a 1700 pound car north of 100mpg. Maybe 150mpg.

The safety rules have to change, though. There’s a reason subcompacts and so-called sports-cars weigh what station wagons did in the 80s, and it’s all the heavy and dense safety quipment, sound insulation, interiors, all that stuff. Something has to give, if we want truly efficient cars, we’re going to have to give up some stuff.