There Auto Be A Law Lightning strikes, MPG and wrong turn signals
May 22, 2025
The podcast opens with a fiery debate on the Trump administration's move to lower fuel economy standards and its effect on electric vehicles. The conversation dives into quirky turn signal colors, revealing why the U.S. sticks with red while Europe prefers amber. Safety concerns around autonomous vehicles unfold as the hosts discuss Aurora Innovation's return to human drivers. Lightning's staggering power is humorously examined, emphasizing the safety of being in a car during a strike. Finally, Tesla and Waymo's self-driving technologies face scrutiny in a tense showdown.
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U.S. Standards Isolate Automakers
- U.S. vehicle standards diverge from UNECE international rules, limiting harmonization and exports.
- Fred Perkins argues politics and funding choices prevent adopting safer global standards.
Keep Mandatory Telltales Visible
- Ensure critical telltales like brake, airbag, and turn-signal indicators remain visible and color-regulated in custom displays.
- Michael Brooks warns dashboards must still show mandated warnings clearly and be visible to a belted driver.
Hybrids As Practical Transition
- Michael Brooks recounts hybrids still occupy roughly 10% of the market and could help meet CAFE without mandating full EV adoption.
- He cites Toyota shifting RAV4 to hybrid as an example of hybrids easing transition.
