New fuel efficiency rules excludes large SUVs and trucks

[Kadie]

Zachary Coile, Chronicle Staff Writer

Monday, August 23, 2005


(08-23) 13:55 PDT Washington (SF Chronicle) --

The Bush administration announced new rules calling for a slight increase in fuel economy standards for minivans, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles starting in 2008, but critics said the regulations are riddled with loopholes that will encourage automakers to keep building large gas-guzzling vehicles.

The new rules -- the first major rewrite of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy or CAFE standards since they were created in the 1970s -- would replace the current requirement that automakers meet a single average mileage standard for their entire fleet of light trucks with a new system that divides vehicles into six classes based on their size.

"This proposal gives automakers another excuse to not make the cars that people want -- ones that use availability technology to save consumers money at the gas pump and cut pollution," said Dan Becker, director of Sierra Club's global warming program.

The new system would continue to exempt large sport utility vehicles and trucks weighing more than 8,500 pounds -- such as the Hummer H2 and the Ford Excursion -- from fuel economy standards because they are considered commercial vehicles, even if they are not used as such.


more...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/08/23/BAfuelrules23.DTL

[sepia_steel]

1. It is so blatantly stupid to label them "commercial"

when their size has nothing at all to do with it.

:banghead:

[Beaverhausen]

2. But people aren't buying big gas guzzlers anymore

how stupid are these people???


nevermind...

[lostinacause]

3. It's a step in the right direction - nt

[rodeodance]

4. it does NOT even come into effect till six years from now (lou dobbs re-

orted this.

[lostinacause]

5. I heard 2008 from a number of sources.

Do you have source for this?

[indepat]

6. More play-like from a fanticiful regime: play like those gasoline guzzlers

driven by those soccer moms and others on piddling errands or driving to work don't really guzzle.

[Lefty48197]

7. I think a better way to get more efficient vehicles on the road is

to offer tax rebates to people who purchase hybrids, alternative fuel vehicles, or PZEV's. $1000 or $1500 or ... I think this would get people's attention. If people start buying the efficient vehicles en masse, then the car companies will meet the demand.