Taken for a Ride: Detroit's Big Three and the Politics of Air Pollution

L.A. began to experience smog in 1942; by 1950 a California Institute of Technology professor had laboratory results proving that autos and refineries were the main culprits. Bit oil's response was to hire Stanford Research Institute to research (dispute) his findings. As public opinion intensified, oil companies then tried to shift the blame to autos. The auto industry then resisted, insisting on definitive proof. In 1957 when this was provided, they then insisted smog was a problem peculiar to the L.A. area. By 1963, even this was well refuted. And on and on it goes - any improvement in smog, safety, or fuel economy was fiercely resisted on the basis of high costs - even though initial significant improvements cost as little as $10 (the PCV valve) or less (retarding the spark - known since the Model T). Meanwhile, Detroit was wasting untold billions through inefficient production practices, when compared with the Toyota Production System. Bottom Line: I suspect the auto industry has contributed far more to America's fuelishness etc. than we'll ever know.

"Since the end of World War II, the American automobile industry has had numerous opportunities to capture the economic and environmental high ground of building better cars and trucks. Yet at least once a decade over the last fifty years, Detroit's best and brightest missed the mark. GM, Ford, and Chrysler repeatedly missed economic opportunity, missing becoming technological leaders, and missed the change to cast their products and companies into an entirely different political light." "Detroit failed to pick up the mantle of automotive leadership not because GM, Ford, or Chrysler lacked ability or technology, but rather, because they were too comfortable to change, were reluctant to take risks, refused to innovate, and lacked meaningful competition to make them perform any differently." During the golden years, 1950 through 1960s, GM, Ford, Chrysler accounted for 95 percent of the vehicles sold. Japan became the world's largets automaker in 1980 after Americans discovered these foreign imports were fuel efficient and high quality. The Japanese cars were a product of solving problems associated directly with engine design and driveline technology. Japanese engines were built from the "ground up" using home grown engineers capable of thinking about tough fuel efficiency issues. Quality improved and processes streamlined. The Japanese used time without waste and implement robotic automation giving them time to learn how to manage the technology. "The modern era of front-wheel drive automobiles began in the 1950s in Europe. British Motor Corporation built ... the Morris Mini, a small car that utilized a fuel-efficient transverse engine - a sideways-mounted engine place over a front-wheel drive system." Front wheel drive was more fuel efficient, space saving, and reduced weight by eliminating the drive shaft, large rear axle, and rear suspension. Front wheel drive vehicles were quieter, smoother, and offered better handling. "These cars did not enter production line until April 1979, as America entered the second energy crisis." An another key technology relevant to fuel efficiency and emissions is fuel injection. In 1954, Mercedes Benz 300 SL proved fuel injection was better; having taken the technology from the airplane technology. "A fuel injector, by comparison is more elegant and more efficient, spraying the fuel more precisely direction into each cylinder." "After the energy shocks of the 1970s, Detroit began working on fuel injection." "Even into the 1990s, Detroit was still diverting precious engine R & D into power, not fuel economy." The EPA reported that 0 to 60 acceleration, since 1986, is up 19 percent, average weight up 20 percent. Fuel economy, meanwhile, fell by 7 percent." Quality costs, in 1992, GM spent $3 billion on warranty repairs, or about $829 a vehicle in the US." "The Big three had said in order to pass the ULEV standard, cars would have to burn an ultra-clean fuel, like natural gas, which woul

Very thorough and indisputable account of the damage the auto industry has done to our health and environment by colluding and fighting environmental regulations through the years and withholding cleaner technology. Based on actual congressional records, trial transcripts, local government transcripts and other documentation. It describes how the companies lied, colluded and in some cases were found guilty, but yet have been able to continue to pollute. It doesn't read like a novel and can get wordy, but it is eye opening. This should be reading 101 for those congress people who are only listening to the car industries side of the story. At the very end, the book also ponders the idea of litigation. Unlike tobacco, people don't have a choice in the air they breathe. I could see that some states might want to re-coup cost for asthma treatment and other illnesses created by the car industries smog. As a couple side notes: I have personally seen the Chairman of the Air resources board for California with this book in hand. Right now the Car companies are continuing to fight Zev(Zero Emission Vehicle) mandates in several states. The shame is their arguments today read like chapters from this book in which the quotes are from the 1960's. Remember when they told us that putting in air bags would kill the car industry? That was 1982.

As the Editor-in-Chief of EVWorld.Com, I had the opportunity to do an audio interview with Jack Doyle last week (June 15, 2000). We will be webcasting that interview in three parts on the EVWorld.Com web site starting the week of June 24, 2000. In the interview, Jack shares his experiences in writing Taken For A Ride. Having read the book in preparation for the interview, I found it a devastating indictment of the US auto industry who used its political and financial muscle to stall auto emissions technology and regulations for decades.

Doyle has written a beautifully researched synopsis of the auto companies' resistance to clean air technologies. The book is well-written, comprehensive, and a real eye-opener.