Statistically Speaking: Detroit Does It Better in Europe
A side-by-side look at some U.S. cars and their European cousins shows stark differences between the cars Detroit makes at home and those made abroad.
So the Big Three automakers are in trouble and want some of our money to stay afloat. Before handing over any cash, we might want to look at how Detroit does when it has to.
One of the big problems with the Big Three, it is widely said, is their failure to innovate, especially when it comes to fuel efficiency. Earlier this year, Congress forced the issue by increasing fuel-economy standards from the current 27.5 miles per gallon (mpg) to 35 mpg by 2020 in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 [pdf].
But Detroit cried foul –- no can do without lots of government money. And so, Congress agreed to provide $25 billion in government loans to help Detroit make the transition. Now the Big Three want to use that $25 billion to stay afloat -- and forget the newly mandated fuel economy.
It’s a sad story. But before we get out our handkerchiefs, here are some interesting statistics.
Fuel Efficiency: U.S. Car vs. European Cousin
| Car | U.S. mpg city/highway |
European mpg city/highway |
Carbon dioxide emissions/mile in U.S. (in pounds) |
Carbon dioxide emissions/mile in Europe (in pounds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Focus |
27/37 | 38/59 | .52 | .38 |
| Chrysler | 17/23 | 37/42 | .84 | .53 |
So why is Detroit having so much trouble making fuel-efficient cars here when they are already making them in Europe? To be fair, it looks like it’s not all their fault.
Europe's fuel-efficient cars built by Detroit use a different engine: one powered by diesel as opposed to gasoline. But hold that "aha" for a minute – European diesel is an ultra low-sulfur fuel with highly reduced pollutant emissions. (This new diesel allows controls that lower other pollutants, controls that were previously not viable with higher sulfur diesel.)
Diesel: New vs. Old- Sulfur oxide emissions down by 97%
- Particulate emissions down by up to 90%
- Nitrogen dioxide emissions down by up to 50%
Whatever the reason for not building these lower emission cars on this side of the pond, clearly Detroit knows how to be green and clean. The cars they are building in Europe exceed the newly upped fuel-efficiency standards mandated by Congress last year -- standards that had not been touched in decades. That’s why I say we need to attach some very strong green strings to any Detroit bailout.
Sources
Steve Austin, "Study: European Variants of U.S. Cars Average 60% Better Gas Mileage" - www.gas-cost.net/
Diesel (ULSD) - www.greenauto.com/index.php/2008031978/Technologies/Technologies/Diesel-ULSD.html
"Emission Facts: Average Carbon Dioxide Emissions Resulting from Gasoline and Diesel Fuel" - www.epa.gov/oms/climate/420f05001.htm
Ben Hewitt, "The Case for Diesel: Clean, Efficient, Fast Cars (Hybrids Beware!)," Popular Mechanics, January 2008 - www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4237945.html
Little sympathy
It's difficult to have sympathy for the Big Three Babies. I fell sorry for their workers who have been caught in so many tangled webs of collective stupidity and lack of foresight. When normal consumers find themselves in such situations they lose their homes and/or credit scores - what will really happen if the the Detroit Three collapse? Why would it be so bad to have new car makers spring up to take their place (such as Jet Blue has done in the aerospace industry)? If the Big Three keeps failing to be nimble and effective, why support them? Just because they have been around for generations does not mean that they deserve to be around forever.
Dan