Cars have gotten more and more complicated over the past 40 years. And part of the reason why is regulation.
What regulations lead to what inventions becoming standard equipment on cars today?
One big example I can think of is emissions regulations in the late 80’s leading to OBDII ports in the early 90’s.
So what other regulations gave way to inventions toward standard equipment?
It’s not brain science, fuel, spark, and air.
Emissions, vent valve, purse solenoids, cat converters, o2 sensors, etc.
seatbelts and airbags.
Why?
I'm just curious how much of cars were developed organically because manufacturers wanted to versus forcefully because manufacturers had to. Like what would a car (not) have today, if not for all the regulations?
I think what the manufacturer wants probably has very little to do with it. They have to make cars that people need, or will want to buy. Cars are designed for use on public roads which are completely regulated. All commuter cars have the same basic shape. It all kind of blends together. You will have a hard time making a distinction.
CAFE. This, and other reasons too, has really accelerated the march towards turbocharged GDI engines and the prevalence of 8, 9, 10 speed transmissions.
Fascinating. Scotty always talks horribly about GDI. Is that horrible?
EU is going to ban new cars with internal combustion engines within few years. So you won't be able to buy already complicated (emissions regulations) gasoline or diesel ones because of that BS.
