Fuel consumption

[Mortblanc]

We have difficulty comparing our figures to your figures due to the Imperial gallon being 5 quarts and a U.S. gallon being only 4 quarts.

It makes your mileage figures look astronomically good when they are actually about the same as we get over here for the same basic model vehicle. You guys get a 20% head start on us.

The matter of congested fuel consumption is a matter of constant acceleration and braking. A vehicle sitting at idle will not consume more then one quart/liter per hour. That is with no load on the machine.

It is not the sitting at idle in the congestion that uses the most gas it is the start-stop activity.

Over here there is some increase in fuel use while sitting due to the almost universal use of automatic transmissions. With an automatic trans there is always a load on the engine even when dead stopped. That not only uses fuel it keeps the engine on the verge of overheating constantly.

Fuel use during acceleration is magnified with a tiny engine of less than 2L trying to gain speed repeatedly. They get great mileage flat out on the motorway but you are not always on the motorway doing the most efficient use.

My FIL found this out when he bought his first hybrid vehicle. He got fantastic mileage on the highway but no better than any other small under-powered vehicle in congestion and he never reached the manufacturers advertised mileage figures. I used to tease him by telling him they did the testing in Canada on the 5 quart gallon!

Back in the 1970s we had a national speed limit of 55mph imposed on us due to the Arab fuel embargo. It had been determined that 55 was the most efficient speed for an engine to operate, which was baloney from the start. your engine is best at an RPM range, which often does not match a specific speed.

During WW2 we had a nationwide speed limit of 35mph imposed as a fuel saving measure. I do not know if 35 is the most efficient speed for saving fuel but it gives new meaning to the question "Are we there yet?", and it sure does make you sit down and think "Do I really want to drive for two hours just to see that little red haired girl?"

Of course you folks had rationing and no fuel available for non critical use. That rationing continued after the war and influenced your selection of engines to this day.

We had rationing at 10 U.S. gallons per week per family, not due to a shortage but to ease up the pressure on the refineries cranking out product for the war effort. We were supplying us and you also.

I have always thought that too much consideration was given to fuel consumption in SHTF situations. My philosophy has always been to get where you are going and stay put. You do not need to go check on Aunt Martha three times a week, work your turn for the car pool, or run 20 miles to the supermarket.

You just need to get where you are going and sit there. If you do need a vehicle for a trip it is going to be a dangerous, hair raising experience you might wish you had not started rather than a simple run down the road to scavenge some plywood.