[MBCook]

There are two tests you can run for the EPA. What I’ve heard is one favors EVs more and only Tesla uses those numbers for their EVs.

I agree the test needs a redesign. No one drives 55, and speed has a big impact on EVs due to wind resistance.

[CameronNemo]

Pretty sad that we can't just drive 55 on highways. Not even trucks that are towing will drive 55 always.

[CamperBob2]

You can. Just do it in the right lane, please.

[gnicholas]

Seems OK at first glance, but if you're in a 65 then the trucks (in the right lane) will want to go 65+. Going 55 in the right lane means they all need to pass you, which causes a domino effect onto the other lanes of traffic. If you're on a 4-lane highway (2 in each direction), going 55 means that trucks that pass you will have to go in the fast lane.

If there aren't a lot of trucks around, then going 55 in the right lane has less of an impact on other drivers. But if there are many trucks (which there usually are, IME), then going 10 MPH under the limit will cause a lot of headaches for all the other drivers around you.

[MBCook]

And that’s 65. I’ve been in places where the speed limit is 70 but people usually go 75-80.

That’s 20-25mph faster than you. At that point you’re practically impeding traffic, and having a big truck pass you is terrifying.

Just because you can legally drive 55 or maybe even less doesn’t make it safe.

[jcranmer]

> Just because you can legally drive 55 or maybe even less doesn’t make it safe.

Generally, you actually can't legally drive that much slower than prevailing speed.

[gnicholas]

I remember seeing minimum speed limit signs in Iowa. I was told this was to keep tractors off the highways.

Where these signs aren’t present, I think you’d have to be going more than 10 under the maximum limit to get a ticket.

[yurishimo]

Why do people need to drive slow? Sometimes you gotta get somewhere. If they are willing to pay the premium to driver faster and follow the law while doing so, what’s the harm?

[sdfignaionio]

I think you know why: efficiency and safety. Driving fast greatly increases fuel consumption and wear on tires. It makes crashes more likely and more serious.

Why do people need to drive fast? The gains are minimal even if you stay exclusively on a lightly-trafficked freeway. In more realistic scenarios, the gains are almost nothing. You'll just be the first one to the light or traffic jam.

[patmorgan23]

Air resistant. For most vehicles the sweet spot for efficiency is around 45-50 miles an hour. If you go faster than that you start spending more energy fighting wind resistance than going faster

[CameronNemo]

They are not willing to pay the premium, though.

Tell me when highways, bridges, and streets are not paid by gas taxes -- you won't.

Tell me when I can trade money for reliably sequestered CO2 -- you can't.

edit: I didn't downvote them btw

[yurishimo]

So you downvote me because you are refusing to engage in the “we live in a society” meme?

We’ve decided collectively how to fund infrastructure and engage in climate action as a society. If you don’t like it, feel free to lobby your neighbors and representatives to change the law.