Buffett's comments about railroad efficiency

...but the most effective because I don't have to lay down rail tracks down the street and a siding on the driveway for the occasional grocery trip ;-) talk about a terrible ROI.

 

Let's explore this more.


Occasionally, I realize a Prius is 3,000, but I'm only 180...is that efficient? Yes, it's to be crashworthy, aerodynamic, max out at 4-5 people on occasions. Still, wouldn't it be cool for a Prius to be 1,500?

 

In a fair and just world?
There would be a RWD, drop-top, two-seat Prius that weighs 1500# and had a for-real transmission, better steering and a body that would inspire calenders.

THAT would be a cool way to use 134BHP!!!!!

Sadly, a 1500# Prius in its current configuration would probably not be quite as crash worthy.

 

Not true, it can be made with all carbon fibre materiel and it will pass crash tests. But not too many people can afford one, meaning it will not be in production.

 

A car getting 25 mpg carrying 2 people is just as efficient as a Prius getting 50 mpg carrying 1 person, assuming all people weigh the same. If a Prius carries 4 people and gets 50 mpg, it's getting the equivalent of 200 mpg per person or stated another way, it moves each person 200 miles with the equivalent of 1 gallon of fuel. When applying this same thinking, even though freight trains do burn a lot of fuel, it's their ability to move ton's and ton's of weight that makes the ratio of fuel burned per pound of weight ultra efficient when compared to other modes of transportation.