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Anti-hybrid conspiracy in 1970's

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Former Member 68813, May 14, 2012.

  1. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    Wow,
    I just learned how USA hybrid research was supressed by EPA in 1974.

    Full story here: Hybrids and the EPA Fuel Economy Controversy | Hybrid Cars

    It's interesting how even now, hybrid bashing uses the same arguments. It's more than conspiracy, it's a close minded mindset IMHO.
     
    #1 Former Member 68813, May 14, 2012
  2. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    #2 wjtracy, May 14, 2012
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  3. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

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    I believe 78 years old may justify the phrase "going nowhere". Mr.Alzheimer forgot where to go, also.
    LOL
     
    #3 telmo744, May 15, 2012
  4. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    I believe the interview took place at Area 51.
     
    #4 El Dobro, May 15, 2012
  5. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    One dumb bureaucrat, does not a conspiracy make. Keep also in mind that Wouk was unable to convince any of the Detroit carmakers to pursue his ideas. His ideas were never suppressed, they were simply not supported for government subsidized R&D. Wouk was delighted that Toyota eventually brought his ideas to fruition, and drove a Toyota Prius his last years.

    IMO Toyota would have balked at trying to commercialize Wouk's ideas in the 1970's. CARB regulation was still in its infancy, fuel was cheap, and the computers on wheels we drive today were decades away from realization. Heck, Toyota itself readily admits that the Prius was a direct response to a perceived competitive threat arising from the US' PNGV initiative only US companies were allowed to join.

    In a way, I think Hyundai and Ford today might be proving that old bureaucrat had a debatable position. Start with a small(ish) car, add auto stop and direct injection, and focus on fuel economy rather than power and weighty suspensions.

    By the way, not too many years later a brilliant engineer in the EPA took up the hybrid idea, and was also unable to gain enough traction for commercial production.
     
    #5 SageBrush, May 15, 2012
  6. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    Thanks for the link. I was unaware of that.
    I guess "conspiracy" is too strong word here.
     
    #6 Former Member 68813, May 16, 2012
  7. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    How about "massive incompetence?"

    "Hey, we're going to give you a job and pay you money to come up with a list of ways to make cars more fuel efficient."

    "Ok, I'll take the job and bury every idea that's thrown at me. That's how I'll earn my paycheck."

    Unbelievable.
     
    #7 Rebound, May 17, 2012
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