The ‘kei’ cars and trucks are growing in popularity in the U.S. But many states have explicitly banned them in recent years. A bill at the statehouse would allow them on Colorado roads.
I’d go for it with a slight caveat: They need to uprate the engines a bit so they can cruise on US highways at US highway speeds. While they can reach 75mph ungoverned, you generally don’t want to run an ICE at close to its limit. That’s why you aim for 85-100mph max speed for US highways; it means it’ll be running efficiently cruising at 60-70mph.
Fortunately, this shouldn’t be difficult. The engines would likely be capable of it with a little tuning or extra turbocharger boost. And going electric makes it all a non-issue.
I’d still take one for most stuff. 70MPH is the maximum speed permitted on the majority of the US interstate system, most US highways were limited to 55 until relatively recently (at least in along the East coast).
While you can go slower, you’ll be the slowest vehicle on the road. That’s a safety concern because differences in speed are the most important issue on the highway. The safest speed there is the one where you flow with everyone else.
I’d go for it with a slight caveat: They need to uprate the engines a bit so they can cruise on US highways at US highway speeds. While they can reach 75mph ungoverned, you generally don’t want to run an ICE at close to its limit. That’s why you aim for 85-100mph max speed for US highways; it means it’ll be running efficiently cruising at 60-70mph.
Fortunately, this shouldn’t be difficult. The engines would likely be capable of it with a little tuning or extra turbocharger boost. And going electric makes it all a non-issue.
I’d still take one for most stuff. 70MPH is the maximum speed permitted on the majority of the US interstate system, most US highways were limited to 55 until relatively recently (at least in along the East coast).
While you can go slower, you’ll be the slowest vehicle on the road. That’s a safety concern because differences in speed are the most important issue on the highway. The safest speed there is the one where you flow with everyone else.