Skeptics Stack Exchange
Skeptics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [road-vehicles]

Use this tag for question about cars, trucks and other road transport.

Road vehicle with four wheels and an engine intended to be a means of transport.

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Do antistatic car-straps reduce static shocks from cars?

There is a line of anti-static rubber straps sold for cars which attach to the chassis of the car and dangle down to the road. It is claimed that they allow static electricity to drain off, preventing mild static shocks. Examples: SCA Anti Static…
Oddthinking
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Are Maryland's vehicle emissions tests a net benefit for the environment?

I am skeptical that vehicle emissions programs like Maryland's VEIP are a net win overall. You generate emissions by driving there in the first place, and idling while you wait your turn. Almost all newer cars will pass. If your car fails for…
wrschneider
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Is it possible to disable a vehicle with microwave oven magnetron from that distance

In a well-known Youtube channel there is a scene where a scooter had some kind of short circuit caused by magnetron used as a weapon from a distance. I never saw this channel to have fakes but one guy does not believe, saying: OK, rough…
Nakilon
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Does an old car with engine turned off pollute more than a new car going 60 mph?

On the show Real Time with Bill Maher (Jan 9, 2015), Jay Leno (a guy that seems knowledgeable about cars) made this very interesting statement 37 minutes in: A 1977 Ford Galaxy, one of those big ones. Park it on the street, with the engine…
user3371583
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Did Volkswagen, Chrysler and/or GM cut diesel tailpipe emissions by ~99% over a decade?

This article, dated Jan 5, 2014, makes a rather vague claim that Companies such as Volkswagen AG, Chrysler Group and General Motors have invested billions to make that happen, outfitting vehicles with systems that cut tailpipe emissions by about 99…
Flimzy
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Do modern turbo-diesel car engines fail significantly more often than gasoline ones?

I've seen quite a few articles written on subject, mainly based on anecdotal evidence and with generally alarmistic tone. Allegedly modern turbo-diesel engines used in popular cars are much less durable than equivalent gasoline engines. Allegedly…
vartec
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Are rear-end collisions more dangerous in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) than Petrol cars?

Is it more dangerous to be in a passenger car with compressed natural gas than with a petrol fuel tank when it comes to rear-end collisions? Lawrence Godwin, on eZine claims there is a explosion risk with CNG vehicles, although suggests that they…
GregC
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Does Honda Civic CNG fare well in crash safety tests as claimed by its manufacturer?

Honda touts great safety for their Civic CNG, but I have second thoughts concerning their fuel tank's safety in rear-end collisions. I looked for some tests and data, but could not find anything specific. I'd like to know before I buy.
GregC
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Can remote starters make a car move unattended?

On an episode of a popular television show, a man is showing off his new truck. While bragging about the interior, he accidentally hits the stick with his arm, and puts it in gear. Then, when he starts it remotely a little while afterwards, it roars…
user4882
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Feasibility of electric car production given current production levels of various elements and compounds

This infographic (source) shows the elements required for production of 20 million Tesla cars per year, and compares that with current production rates of those elements. Looks like this was in response to a Tweet by Musk stating a goal of…
Steven Gubkin
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Do cars produce more emissions idling than when in motion?

The author of this article claims that Cars produce more emissions when idling than when in motion. This seems like a patently false statement. How could cars produce more emissions when idling than when in motion? The engine is hardly doing…
NeutronStar
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Is there a difference in driving ability between men and women?

Possible Duplicate: Does gender affect driving skill? Time and time again I hear that "women shouldn't be allowed on the road because they are bad drivers" or similar stories. I'm personally of the opinion that with an activity like driving a…
soulBit
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Is the Katy Freeway the widest in the world?

According to this source and several others (like Sylvester Turner, the mayor of Houston), a section of I-10 in West Houston called the Katy Freeway is the widest highway on Earth. Its widest point is when it intersects Beltway 8 with a total of 26…
clickbait
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Is there a viable design for a thorium car that can run for 100 years without being refueled?

This article and included video from Young Turks claims that Laser Power Systems has produced a "concept for a car" which can run for 100 years on 8 grams of thorium without needing t be refueled. While I believe a car powered by thorium may be…
another guest
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Are "black-box" data recorders to be installed in all new US cars?

Occupy Corporatism reports: With complete disregard for driver privacy, the Obama administration gave their consent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to mandate black box event data recorders (EDR) be installed in all…
K.judge
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