Your Vehicle Gets No Better Gas Mileage Than An Old Model T

The fuel economy of Model T is 21 miles for every gallon or 11.2 liters for every 100 kilometers. This value is almost equivalent to the 2008 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standard fuel efficiency of 20.8 mpg. The Model T also has a better fuel economy value when match up to the present car’s mileage. Seventy years after the Model T’s construction, the car’s gas mileage continuously declined. Except for a slight raise during 1987 which is due to the oil crisis in 1970 and the manufacture of small cars. Small cars weighing 1,464 kilograms in 1986 soon traded for the 1,846 kilograms cars of 1975, increasing the fuel economy by this time to 22 mpg.

On top it is not as if the Model T was somehow offering its driver and passenger's great convenience or creature comforts. Think of a hand cranked vehicle with no electric starter that had no in car heater or air conditioning and could only travel down the road at a top speed of 45 miles per hour maximum. It seems that North American drivers - both Canadian and US are getting short shift on gasoline mpg fuel economies. This is even so in these days of staggering fueling prices at the gas pumps and historically high gas prices. What is going on? Is this all one big game and conspiracy at motorist's expense?

Is this comparison valid and real? Do modern high tech, electronically controlled and monitored precision technology vehicles actually get little better gas mileage and fuel efficiency ratings than that old and mechanically primitive Tin Lizzie? Let the facts speak for themselves. The record of the Model T is well documented over the years. Automobile owners of Model T's could generally expect in the ranges of 21 miles per gallon fuel economy recordings. Yet look again and compare this to the stated 20.8 mpg miles per gallon demanded (even proudly) as the mixed "fleet" number that any given auto maker must command as a whole for their entire product line, as an average, for gas mileage reports. True you might say this composes a range of vehicles some bigger some smaller, some heavier than my simple car.

Yet think again. Model T vehicles could be said to be the utmost in fuel non-efficiency. Heavy metal, mechanical components that were not precise nor expected to be. Reliability not fuel efficiency was the focus. Modern vehicles have very precise electronics to maintain fuel efficiency plus are composed of ultra light vehicles such as light weight plastic to keep weight to a minimum to reduce fuel utilization and costs.

Yet in the end it can be said for motorists to look in the mirror. You have no one to blame but yourselves. It's not a matter of apples to apples but apples to oranges. Motorists and auto buyers over the years have demanded two things at the expense of fuel thriftiness. These fundamentally are first convenience and comfort, and secondly speed and acceleration. For example air conditioning plus all the electric devices in our vehicles that make for ease and plush driving all require power and energy one way or another so hence sap gas economy. Ditto that for fast acceleration and power. The motor on the Model T while reliable might now be said to power little more than old ladies' sewing machines.

Hence in the end if we wish as motorists and automobile owners for better fuel economies and less costly transportation we can either lower our standards of auto performance or take less creature comforts. Or perhaps splurge and pay more up front at our auto dealership for a brand new hybrid SUV, truck or car.

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