Discussion on:

The exotic material in VW's new lightweight car? Steel

A recent post on the "Bring a Trailer" website for a 1980 Ford Fiesta garnered 154 comments. (Typical postings get 20-30.) I had a '79 model, and it was a hoot to drive. A big part of the fun was the fact that it weighed less that 2000 lbs. The current Fiesta weighs between 2575 and 2750, depending on configuration. I'm sure this Golf weighs more than a '78 model, but to actually have reduced the weight over the prior model is a wonderful reversal of the trend. Necessary, since they want to improve fuel economy, but it should serve to make the car more enjoyable to drive as well.

Credit for admitting to be a former Fiesta owner. 1 of the best illustrations of how cars have grown is Honda's line. Civics are bigger than Accords used to be.

One is that the footprint is so much bigger now. Today's Polo is not only significantly heavier than 1974's MkI Golf but also longer.

I try not to do this to often, but i think you missed a word. in the 8th? paragraph you state "One steel maker the U.S."; should this read "One steel maker IN the U.S."? as it is it implies that the U.S. is the one making the steel.

I try not to do this too often, but you used a preposition, to, where an adjective, too, was called for.

Imarks, I read your typo redux, and something didn't look quite right to me. The word, too, is actually an adverb, and not an adjective.

Actually, I noticed that after I submitted the comment. I'm actually surprised you didnt ding me on my almost complete lack of capitalization.

Thanks to the Internet, blogs, etc. proofreaders, which provided my daughter a good living for years, have gone the way of the dinosaur. Too bad. It's obvious that errors distract the reader, detract from the message and diminish - in the eyes of the reader - the status of the writer. Witness what most of the comments, including this one, have centered on. Trouble is, most of the commenters (and me) are often worse writers making our statements even less credible. Bring those proofers back!

The main thrust of the article seems to be that the steel has been made stronger, but does not really mention it being lighter. The weight savings are made by removing steel and other items.I suppose if the steel is stronger, it could be made thinner, but I don't think that's suggested. There is no doubt that carbon fibre is much lighter than steel, but it's more difficult to use in making body panels. The process has not been mechanised, as far as I'm aware.
Everyday weight saving can be made by not carry around an extra baggage, and not driving around with a full tank of gas.

It's my guess - and it's only a guess - that the reason automakers strive for better mileage is because drivers/owners want it without having to change their behaviour, lifestyle or driving habits. It is possible to get greater mileage out of nearly any car by changing how one drives. But few there are who want to do that. So...sell more cars by developing what the buying public wants. Given that, what automaker truly intends to teach its customers how to get better mileage? They may give lip service to it, or even appear to be committed to it ("We at [automaker name here] constantly strive to improve the planet through better engineering, etc."), but it's not the number one reason they do it.

ELECTRIC HYBRID VEHICLES & ELECTRIC VEHICLES SOON TO OUT SELL ALL OTHERS

Energy has driven the world for over a thousand years Wind, Hydro and Solar are the oldest forms of energy giving power to all smart enough to use it.

In the last 200 years Coal, Oil and Nuclear has given energy to many worldwide and great power and wealth to only a few. At the cost of many lives in coal Mines, Oil Spills, Radiation, Cancer and Polluting the Air and Water on all of the Earth.

Unfortunately for the wicked there is not an unlimited amount of oil on earth. Just the same as the Forest Trees that clean the air and make Oxygen we breath and all living on earth need to Live. As some in denial are not able to recognize or ever see or live with blinders on.

Doctors and Drug ceo's have been making millions prescribing drugs to many that live near or by High polluted areas that hurt breathing our lungs and harm our children and all. That we all pay for. When all they need is Clean Air and Water, and Clean Cities.

Now common sense would be for all to look for a clean fuel Wind, Hydro, Geothermal and Solar. Renewable Energy is eliminating the need for Dirty Energy Worldwide at a record pace. With Solar Energy Clearly the front runner.

To the fear of some of the richest people on Earth. They to surprisingly are doing
something extraordinary investing in Solar Energy. After years of many of them trying to under mine it.

Fuel that makes energy to ship goods, or make electric for homes and manufacturing. Can transform whole nations into prosperity and wealth or poverty and economic hardships for most all. Just as taxes on taxpayers has done. For over two thousand years. Making slaves of many to the wicked and unjust few. History Lesson Roman Empire, Persian Empire now OIL Empire oh sorry OPEC.

The Freedom to get your own Power from the Wind and Sun, Solar Energy has been there for years. Are Libraries and Schools should have been the first to have gone Solar and Renewable Energy. And why are they not? Churches are all over the Planet. They are going to Solar Energy.

Thank GOD for the Pioneers like John Schaeffer that Started Real Goods The first and Best catalog for Renewable Energy and Scientist Bill Young at the FSEC Florida Solar Energy Center and Monica D. Key Lindbergh for many years wrote to legislators promoting Solar and Renewable Energy and many others.

These Pioneers helped put Wind, Solar And Renewable Energy in the Spotlight for all the World to see. One of The Greatest Scientists ever Albert Einstein Stared it with a Dream that the day would come that all the World would use Solar Energy. His many years of work with the law of the "Photoelectric Effect", and showing this to the World won him the Nobel Prize in Physics. For the "Photoelectric Effect"
Free Energy From the SUN in the heavens above.
We still do not teach this to our young.

Very soon Hybrid Vehicles and (EV's) Electric Vehicles will out number the ones that need oil and gas to go. With the ability to recharge them at home and work from the sun.

Tesla Motors with its new Model S electric sedan, will be one of many the World will see soon. Honda, Nissan, Audi,VW, BMW and Volvo are just some of the Car Companies putting into production Electric Vehicles a EV, and many more are and many are building Electric / Hybrid Vehicles. The DeLorean Motor Company will be putting into production by 2013 a DMC-EV Electric DeLorean, that will have a body and power plant that will last you a life time. Just think you can recharge them at home and work free from the sun Solar Energy.

The Lord's Little Helper
Paul Felix Schott

Now to own a car that will never rust way and runs on the power from the sun that's the one for me. Very soon most all on earth will be able to get energy by recharging from the sun and wind.

The boom of electric vehicle's has helped relaunch the alternative energy movement . American's have become Green aware with the stylish new look's of the hybrids and EV's to residential powered Solar energy systems. Microgrids are giving California a option when it comes to electricity. Companies like Verengosolar.com are spearheading the movement for families to drastically lower there power bill and give them control of what there bill would be in the future. Verengosolar.com offers customers a unique view on bill payment they can forecast what the customer bill will be in 20 yrs by allowing the customer to lock in one low rate for tier's 3, 4 and 5 (current rate for tier {3} is .25 cent, tier {4} .28 cent and tier{ 5} .32 cent) that doesn't sound like a lot of money but take in consideration your tier 5 charge was .17 cent seven years ago, almost 100% increase in that time frame.With all the rebate's and incentive's California is offering the time is now to go solar!
Verengosolar.com is offering a $500 for referral's you don't have to be customer to take advantage of this program.
http://www.verengosolar.com/new-offers/solar-ev/

It's the recycling aspect that rocks! Out with plastics like carbon fiber.

Stainless steel screws and hardened wood screws in varying sizes from Rock Industrial to serve all your purpose in the area of cabinet, kitchen, roof and other metal fittings.
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