When there is demand, companies will supply. The automotive industry thrives off of consumer’s wants and needs, not the other way around. The average consumer goes trough many decision-making factors when purchasing a car. For decades the concern was legroom, pick up, and looks. Today, with the spike in gas prices, the major factor consumers are banking on is gas mileage. Consumers want to avoid the gas pumps and not have to fill the tank. Just like in the 70’s with the spike in gas prices, consumers have made the move from heavy gas-guzzlers to light fuel-efficient cars. The automobile industry has always tailored the cars to the consumer; with the rising gas prices this is how they plan to handle the demand shift.
There are many ways for car manufacturers to create engines that can drive a few miles more on a gallon. Hybrids, electric cars, and alternate fuel engines are all hitting the scene. Primitive lunkers like the hummer are being pulled and put to rest. It is a new world of gas and energy conscious consumers.
A few companies have sought the wisdom of NASA to help produce an engine that will use the wasted heat energy during combustion. Only a certain amount of energy is used from every explosion in a combustion engine. There is a large amount of heat energy that radiates off the engine and is wasted. With the help of NASA and their knowledge of capturing and generating energy from heat expulsion, there will be more energy efficient machines on the road soon.
Obama just recently released the new upcoming requirement for car’s gas millage by 2020. Cars have hovered around 27.5 mpg for years, with this new requirement the new average will be 60mpg. This jump was made once in the 70’s and the car manufacturers were not pleased. This time around not a single voice has been spoken against this new requirement. The times are changing and the Automotive industry sees that.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2011-07-19-Raise-standard-to-60-mpg_n.htm