Automakers: Still fighting...but change is coming
Today I came across an article that is very similar to the one that we read for the graded assignment due tonight. The article addresses the issue of legislation and automobiles, and the need to increase environmental standards/fuel standards. One of the bills speaks about changing the CAFE (currently 27.5 mpg average for cars and 22.2 mpg average for trucks) and combining them, so that all vehicles would have to meet 35 mpg by 2020.
The most interesting part of the article talked about the rising gas prices and the effects it has on fuel consumption. One point was presented by the Vice President of General Motors. He compared mileage standards to obesity, arguing that raising mileage standards to solve fuel problems is like telling clothing manufacturers to sell only small sized clothes in order to fight obesity.
Obviously the government needs to step in to regulate fuel in SOME way. Gas prices are high and the environment isn't benefitting at all. There are many steps the government can take; but the two this article specifically mentions are raising prices of gas even higher(so less people will drive) and raising mileage standards on vehicles. A third of course, would be alternative energy. What do you think legislators should do to make a difference?
2 comments:
I personally agree that we should be looking at the third option. Our reading told us that although many of our examples had just 2 choices, real economies have many more. If raising the gas mileage has the danger of causing more fatal accidents, then why not help the environment by using cars that run on methane, water, vegetable oil or other energy sources?
Car makers are not going to raise fuel efficiency unless they are forced. It is cost and benefit. Better cars takes more research and development. As long as people are still buying cars, automobile makers will see no reason to increase MPG. The free market allows this to happen.
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