An old-fashioned economy run pitting hybrid, electric, hydrogen and gasoline technologies against each other might be just what is needed to spur innovation in the American auto industry
Cameron Fullam -
UDAYTON - May 4, 2012
Great minds think a like. --Ed.
Oil, gasoline and car manufacturers once sponsored "economy runs" mostly between 1936 and 1968 to put their products to the test and prove they could help drivers achieve the most miles per gallon, according to University of Dayton auto historian John Heitmann. Author of The Automobile and American Life, Heitmann has given interviews to multiple national and international news outlets including CNN International, The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press and National Geographic.
"Oil spills, drilling, Middle East unrest, vehicle design, government regulation and carbon emissions are at the forefront of daily news discussions," Heitmann said. "Perhaps it's time to bring back the economy run, if for no other reason than to raise public awareness concerning the values of thrift and conservation."
Heitmann will discuss the history of the competitions Thursday, April 14, in Detroit at the annual meeting of the Society of Automotive Engineers. Automotive History Review published his research on the competitions in 2008....
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