By: Wayne M. Brehob

Wayne M. Brehob — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:15:00 +0000

Fuel economy standards have not worked to reduce fuel usage in the past and it is unlikely they will work this time. People have responded by buying vehicles, a lot of trucks, from the low end of the fuel economy range, and by driving more miles Also the higher cost of the more efficient vehicles is going to slow their introduction.
In any case, there is something better. It would be more effective to raise the cost of fuel by putting a tax on petroleum. The high cost of fuel causes people to purchase high fuel economy vehicles, even if they cost more, and to drive fewer miles.
The only time that fuel consumption dropped in the past was when prices spiked.

By: 42man

42man — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 02:50:00 +0000

I was truly insulted by the grossly misleading and intellectually dishonest editorial regarding vehicle mpg and the new government requirements being debated on Capitol Hill. Mr. Schweiger presents only one financial measure by which to consider the proposal’s effect on consumers, instead of important other measures that must be considered for a complete picture. He claims that the current proposal will save consumers $80 billion at the gas pump. He conveniently overlooks AT LEAST two critical other measures that must be considered to see a more honest and complete picture of the financial effects on consumers. 1) How much more do the vehicles cost the consumer? For example, right now the Toyota Highlander Hybrid costs $9,000 MORE, or 33%, than the regular Highlander model. So if the average price of a car jumps from $30,000 to $40,000, the consumer has lost billions on the front end, which will never be made up on gas savings over the time he owns the vehicle. How can I save $10,000 in gas on a vehicle when I don’t even spend that much TOTAL on gas now over eight years? 2) Further, these new cars will by definition have to be made of much lighter, and therefore less safe, materials, leading to much more death and injury in auto accidents. To say nothing of the immeasureable loss of life costs with this fact, you can count on higher insurance costs to the consumer as well.

The transparent propaganda inherent throughout this article undermines the integrity of every piece of editorial in your magazine.

Comments on: Efficient Vehicles: A Better Way to Go

By: Wayne M. Brehob

By: 42man