Here's a bit of MPG History Comparison over the last 100 Years.
After recently filling up my Jeep, I started to wonder about how fuel efficient the cars from yesteryear were. Interestingly, here is what I discovered - a comparison between the first mass-produced Ford vehicle (Model T) and today's best-selling vehicle in the US, the Ford F-150 pickup.
Although the birth of the first motorized vehicle was in 1886 by German inventor, Karl Benz (as in Mercedes-Benz), most of us better relate to Henry Ford's mass-produced Model T. The "T" was the new auto-mobile of its time, built for the average man in 1908. Affordable at only $550, the Model T was lightweight and maneuverable. Let's see how it compares to today's F-150.
Coming in a around 1,500 pounds, this remarkable car only cost $550 ($14,400 in today's dollars). Its 4-cylinder engine put out just over 20 horsepower, but 80+ ft-lbs of torque. With all that "old" technology, the Model T still offered an impressive 22 MPG - no computers, just good 'ole American engineering.
Next, the Ford F-150 Base...
A much more robust vehicle, the base 2014 Reg. Cab F-150 weighs in at 4,700 pounds, and sports a 302 horsepower / 278 ft-lbs of torque V-6. Although a much safer, environmentally cleaner, heavier, and more powerful vehicle, the F-150 can only achieve an average 20 MPG. The stripped down version will set you back $24,000, nearly 70% in comparable dollars than the Model T. Of course, you do get much more for your money, but certainly not better gas milage.
Sure, the F-150 weighs much more, and has lots more environmental standards to adhere to, but really? An actual decrease in MPG - in over 100 years of technology? We're really not better than that? Now some may think this was done on purpose. Hmmm... perhaps yes. Perhaps no, but really makes you think, doesn't it? Some may even suggest, "just follow the dollar".
Seems like after over 100 years, we should have done much better with the fuel efficiency part of things. For goodness sakes, only getting 20 MPG on a base truck - in 2014??? Really kinda sucks, IMHO. Maybe 100 or 150 MPG would seem more reasonable. Ah, but then again... according to Reformation.org, Henry Ford Company was financed by and became a subsidiary of Standard Oil Company.
My next car is going to be a Tesla.
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