Random Thoughts of Chris Tilley

The US is considering a bill that would mandate an average 35 MPG fuel economy across an automakers line up. On the surface this looks good but the problems are in the details and it doesn't go far enough, fast enough.

First how do they calculate the average. If it is the average of all vehicles sold then great. If it is an average across each model with no consideration for numbers sold then bad.

Second what are the loopholes? Can they earn credits for anything? They are removing the bonuses for flex fuel. I'm not sure thats a good idea but on the other hand its misleading to claim an average MPG of X when its really lower.

The reaction from the automakers is priceless. "It's unattainable up to 2020, and unattainable thereafter," said Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers spokeswoman Gloria Bergquist. Quote from FreeP.com. Bull, The Chinese already have tougher standards in place. They went in to effect in 2005, 38 MPG for light vehicles and 19 for trucks. Those increase to 43 and 21 in 2008. Here is a blog entry from 2005 on Chinese Fuel Efficiency Standards. And we are saying that it can't be done by 2020 or ever. What are these car companies going to do when gas is $5 a gallon and we can't afford to run their gas guzzlers?

These guy need to learn to compete on fuel economy and this is something they can do. Honda and Toyota already compete heavily on this and the Chinese cars are coming.

We do have some hope, this is possible and there are groups working to that goal. See my related post to see some groups that can help us reach this goal and beyond.

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