Carbon Fiber Cost Benefit

In the mid to late 1980s, I worked on a team that developed an airbag inflator using a carbon-fiber outer shell to replace the then-current steel containment cylinder (see WAW — Oct. '09, p.3).

The weight savings were greater than 60%, and the device withstood the enormous pressures and temperatures developed within. In addition, the team developed a lightweight non-metallic carbon-fiber and adhesive airbag module.

We calculated that 100,000 inflator bodies per year could be manufactured in a plant, with equipment costs of less than $100,000. The Corvette would have been an ideal platform for this unit.
Ernst M. Faigle
Dryden, MI

Signal For A Change

The active safety systems are indeed impressive, but we are overlooking the obvious (see WAW — Sept. '09, pp.24).

Our mainstream turn signal remains a flawed mechanical system from the 1930s. Turn signals are one of the original crash-prevention features, yet we tolerate the defects and driver usage rates are appalling. Imagine if brake lights came on only 50% to 80% of the time or stayed on after braking: There would be outrage and massive recalls. Turn-signal accuracy should be no different.

Intelligent technologies ensure turn-signal usage and shut off appropriately every time. OEM implementation could prevent millions of crashes; save thousands of lives; promote more courteous driving and better traffic flow; and the cost add is near zero.

Before we start adding more cost and weight for more lasers, radar, sonar and cameras, we need to fix turn signals.
Richard Ponziani
Dayton, Ohio

Cash For Clunker Beneficiary

I'm a life-long resident of “fly over land” in a small community just north of St. Paul, MN (see WAW — Sept. '09, p.2). I took advantage of the “Cash for Clunkers” program to replace my '95 Dodge pickup with a new V-8 Ram 1500.

Over the first 2,000 miles (3,218 km), I'm averaging 19.3 mpg (12.1 L/100 km), which is at least 5 mpg (2 km/L) better than my old truck. I've installed a soft tonneau cover that has significantly improved my fuel economy. On an 85-mile (136-km) trip, I averaged 23.6 mpg (9.9 L/100 km).

As a consumer, I think one of the president's mistakes with the program was that both GM and Chrysler were short on inventory as a result of their manufacturing plants being shut down during their respective bankruptcies. I looked for several weeks for a 2-wheel-drive Chevrolet pickup with no success.

I finally located a Dodge, but I had to drive 700 miles (1,126 km) from Minnesota to Kansas to get it. The guys in Kansas thought I was a bit crazy.

I am impressed with the design, quality and engineering of this new truck and now have 7,000 miles (11,265 km) on it. I have to wonder what the sales numbers would have been if GM and Chrysler had more inventory to sell.
Tom Seifert
West St. Paul, MN

If I did the math right, the government spent $3 billion to save 42,000 jobs in the second half of the year, costing taxpayers almost $72,000 per job. Confidence that many of those jobs will be sustained over the next 12-18 months is questionable.

Surely there is good that will come from this program. Hope and confidence are most likely the building blocks for any recovery. The points you make in this regard are well taken. Still, spending $72,000 to save one job is a tough economic argument to make, unless that job is yours or mine.

While not a fan of the program, I believe like any well-intended effort it will create benefits.
Steve Gauthier
Grand Junction, CO

We want your feedback. Please email comments to Editor Drew Winter at [email protected]. Include your name, city and state. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.