Posted on 12/16/2015 1:47:58 PM PST by Citizen Zed
A report from the Environmental Protection Agency indicates that U.S. automakers' progress toward better fuel economy and emissions standards is slowing.
The agency's new study shows scant improvement in either area. Average fuel economy for U.S. passenger vehicles in 2014, industrywide, was 24.3 miles per gallon -- the same number achieved in 2013. Average carbon dioxide emissions were also the same, at 366 grams per mile.
This represents backsliding on the part of automakers and auto consumers, critics were quick to say.
Automakers sold more vehicles that were heavier, larger and produced more horsepower, according to the EPA numbers. Consumers bought more light trucks and SUVs, and fewer passenger sedans.
The numbers end a years-long trend of improving progress toward the government's stated goal of an average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. The Obama administration said in 2012 that automakers would have to hit that goal or face penalties.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
““average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025â€
Ain’t happening.”
Depends on whether or not a Republican administration kills the whole thing. If not, this is easily achievable - with a 1500 pound crapbox with 30 horsepower that the new owners will certainly get killed in.
Did it ever occur to these utopians that, at some point, you reach a point of diminishing returns? This has been my complaint and frustration for years now, i.e., that modern cars burn really cleanly and as older vehicles phase out of use the total emissions of actual pollutants will continue to diminish.
Does the EPA mean to say that the American People have failed because we have not advanced toward their arbitrary goal? What kind of a screwed-up attitude is that for a government agency to tell the people that they have failed? They answer to the people, not the other way around.
Maybe the government should just fire the American People and import a population from abroad that is more cooperative and tractable, willing to work for lower pay, drive smaller cars, and vote reliably Democrat.
Nawwww. That would be crazy!
Every time a refugee comes to the United States from some Third World basket case of a country, he immediately begins to produce many times more CO2 emissions as he starts to drive cars, live in a heated house, and adopt the US consumer life-style. This increase in CO2 emissions will lead to Global Climate Change, if you believe in that sort of thing...
So we should require that these people stay out of the United States to prevent these increased emissions. After all, Global Climate Change is the biggest national security threat we face. Future generations will curse us for each refugee we accept, because we are increasing the severity of the future devastation.
Won’t somebody think of the children?!?
That, or a European-style annual carbon tax.
For example, the car I drive would be subject to a $400 per year carbon tax if I lived in England.
2012 Impala was last sedan to offer optional bench seat.
I believe you can still get that option on some pickups.
Funny the buckets used to be the option.
You can get an after market bench seat where the middle seat has a fold down console. About $800
No tree grows to the sky. The next step would be forcing drivers into itty-bitty cars, and out of their SUVs.
The question that really needs to be asked is what is the goal? Peak oil has been postponed indefinitely; America is about to become an oil exporter; and the nation runs on energy. Is there a clear, distinct goal here that the country can agree on? Or is it regulation for its own sake?
People who would normally buy the smallest, most fuel efficient cars don’t have any money for new ones. The folks with some change for new car are buying bigger ones, and trucks. Fleet mileage naturally goes down. Expect more onerous gas guzzler taxes in 3...2...1...
“You can get an after market bench seat where the middle seat has a fold down console. About $800”
I have a 2010 Jetta, not the smallest car I could have gotten. You’d have to redesign the entire car to fit a bench seat. The center console starts high on the dash and runs all the way to the back of the front seats. It is full of mechanical and electrical devices. The foot well is so narrow that when I had to wear a (medical) boot on my foot there was not enough room to operate the pedals. I had to use another car for six weeks.
The envirowackos won’t be happy until we’re all riding bikes everywhere.
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