The average new car isn’t much more fuel-efficient than older ones. Still, to this day, the average vehicle has a range of between 20 and 30 miles per gallon, a stat which was very similar in the 1920s. How come with all the advances we’ve made in the last century is fuel efficiency the same?

Question

The average new car isn’t much more fuel-efficient than older ones. Still, to this day, the average vehicle has a range of between 20 and 30 miles per gallon, a stat which was very similar in the 1920s. How come with all the advances we’ve made in the last century is fuel efficiency the same?

In: Technology

Answer 1

We’ve dramatically increased the speed and horsepower, added all sorts of safety features like roll cages and airbag systems, and increased creature comforts like air conditioning, additoinal insulated for weather and sound deadening, electronics/computers to provide entertainment, data, and control functions like ABS and AWD, power windows/locks, sunroofs, etc. which all add weight.