Long post: Forgive me for the read! :
Coming to the hill this summer will be legislation to increase the average requirement automakers are expected to reach in all cars and trucks.
Bill supporters say the automakers are dragging their feet, the automotive supporters say the standards are impossible to achieve.
Summary of two possible bills:
Markey Bill (HR1506)
CAFE increases to start for cars in 2009.
In 2012, fuel efficiency increases at 4 percent per year.
In 2018, cars/trucks combined must reach 35 mpg.
After 2018, 4 percent increases per year.
Hill-Terry Bill (HR2927)
— By 2022, cars and trucks must reach 35 mpg.
— Provision keeps cars and trucks separated.
— Sets requirements at "maximum feasible" level.
Fuel economy debate heats up
How should this be decided? Is increasing economy impossible as the US automakers claim? Or is Detroit and others holding on to SUV's and trucks only over profits?
I would support the Market bill mostly due to the language of the second. "Maximum feasible" isn't a good word in congress. Who will determine this and will it is accurate or influenced by money? How do you attain the set level is the feasible levels can't reach it by 2022 and if so how do you punish automakers?
We have the technology, the issue is that tech isn't where the money is. The so-called green champion, the prius wasn't even profitable for Toyota until the recent 2004 generation model.
Prius Facts
One of the best features of most hybrid type cars is the auto-stop, the system that shuts off the engine while at a stop, or during slow acceleration are some cars like the prius. Mercedes has developed an auto-stop to work and is under testing on normal delivery vans in Europe. If all automakers could adopt this on cars it could save 10-15% on gas across the board. The only sacrifice is off the bat performance of sports cars and trucks.
With GM promising a functional Lithium Ion battery to power hybrids by 2010 a future with jumps in Mileage is possible. Apply this platform to SUV's, trucks, and crossovers and meeting requirements should be no problem.
Behold! The battery of the future! Already in your cell phone!
The only holdbacks I see is the oil money in congress as well as the fact US automakers are not doing well. At present their only major category of profitable cars is the SUV and truck market. Force them to change these and we might not have any more US automakers. Is that such a bad thing? :rolleyes:
So thoughts? Pass one of these measures? Or protect our automotive industry and let the raising gas prices force them to change?