The subject line is phrased as a question, but a study of American streets shows the answer.
At least half of people driving full-size trucks (and SUVs) could live with something more efficient. Probably 2/3rds of them could. Large trucks are too clean and too empty too much of the time. Too many of them are dressed up or lowered down and rendered impractical for real hauling.
It's easy to spot an actual work truck vs. a fragile-ego-booster. "Get out of my way, I've got more mass than you!" "Look at my bad-ass grille looming in your mirror!" We've all seen these pinheads.
American trucks have been full-size for decades, which is no crime IF they are used to capacity, not as displays of resource gluttony. The
2007, whale-like Toyota Tundra and newer Tacomas are disappointing. I see little evidence that the new Tundras, especially double-cab short bed, are used much beyond an ego-trip. Toyota could have kept them at their relatively compact size but they bowed to the drill here, drill now, anti-conservation crowd, who think any vehicle < 250HP makes you a wimp.What compels people to occupy as much space as possible on the road? Are obese women more desirable than slim ones? Think about that for awhile. If there was the same stigma against being seen with a fat truck as a......
FYI, the reason fuel prices have dropped recently is due to supply and demand, not a miraculous resurgence in the amount of global oil. People really started conserving this summer after the futures spike, and the credit-default-swap mess has kept them cautious. Oil itself is as finite as ever; more so every second. It's unclear when the price will push $4/gallon again, but it will, and it will keep rising as global production peaks.
The argument that you have a "right" to waste as much oil as you want, and deny all evidence for AGW, is also bogus. With the global population growing by 77 million annually, and the world not getting any bigger, everyone should stop being a glutton.
E.A.