Senate defeats tougher gas mileage standards
So, once again, tougher gas mileage standards have been defeated. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D) said she believed it was:
"good national policy" to avoid imposing new rules on automakers that the industry says would spell the end of low-gas-mileage sport utility vehicles.Well, yeah, improving fuel standards would spell the end of low-gas-mileage SUVs. That's the whole friggin idea! And since the consumers obviously want SUVs, it would then force the manufacturers to come up with ways to make high-gas-mileage SUVs.
But hey, that would cut into profits. And it might make it difficult for some people (Mikulski perhaps?) to get re-elected.
Fuel's Paradise and Just Say Go! vocalize pretty well how I view this whole thing.
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I especially like when GWB talks about the "nice cup holders". Boozer.
I think it's appalling that the Senate caved in and it just goes to show that money is the true power in our government. Shame on all of them who voted against improving the gas mileage. (And yes, this comes from an owner of a low-gas-mileage SUV. Sure I'm a little chagrined about it, but it's by far the most comfortable car I've ever driven--as a matter of fact, no other "car" even comes close, it's a whole different experience.)
I believe if this had passed that there would be high-gas-mileage SUVs on the market within two years if not less. The car makers just don't want to expend the effort.
That's my point exactly. If Honda can build a hybrid car that gets over 60 miles to the gallon using today's technology, then it should not be impossible for GM (or Honda, for that matter) to build a large SUV that get over 30 miles to the gallon. So why don't they? Because they have no incentive to. A hybrid SUV would be several thousand dollars more expensive (although probably cheaper in the long run) than a conventional SUV so consumers won't buy them unless gas becomes very expensive (and what's the chance of that really hapaning here?). If lower gas mileage standards are mandated, then sales of new high-gas-mileage SUV should include a luxury tax that would make the more efficient SUVs price competitive.
Well, I'm not holding my breath.