SUV episode

[Alric]

Hi Brian,

Another comment on the SUV episode. NOVA just aired their episode on the car of the future and summarizes the problem with SUVs. SUVs are not just bigger cars. They are the product of legislation to lower their MPG standards. Resulting in actual LOWER fuel economy after 20 years. Trucks used outside their intended utilitarian purpose are a sociopolitical problem.

I extracted the short clip here:

http://homepage.mac.com/alric/SUVS.mov

Thanks for the show!

[briandunning]

Very true. In fact, the PT Cruiser resulted from the same loophole. By making one specific alteration (which I don't recall exactly, maybe someone else can? I think it had to do with the way the rear seat folds) -- it qualifies as a "truck" and is able to meet lower MPG standards. Yet another absurdity!!!!

[Alric]

And the new CAFE standards turn out to be hogwash

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/04/28/now-we-know-why-the-automakers-werent-screaming-over-the-cafe-r/

"Each automaker is then assigned an individual threshold to meet based on the sales weighted average footprint of the vehicles it sells. A company that sells more large footprint vehicles would have a lower hurdle to jump. One that sells predominantly smaller cars would have to get better mileage. As a result a company like Porsche or Ferrari who sell relatively small sports cars would have to meet a higher standard than Ford or General Motors who sell more large trucks."