Reciently, the Detroit News published this article:
The administration plans to formally propose new standards in September and finalize them by July 2012.
It estimated last fall that hiking fuel efficiency to 56 mpg by 2025 would boost the average vehicle cost by $2,100 to $2,600. But the administration said the rule would save car owners $5,500 to $7,000 over the vehicle's lifetime in fuel costs, and owners would recoup the additional up-front cost within 2.5 to 3.5 years.
The high mileage requirement would dramatically reshape what Americans drive. Currently, passenger vehicles must average 30.2 mpg and light trucks 24.1 mpg in government testing, but vehicles get far less in real-world driving. . . ."
Hummm, 56.2 MPG, it is my summer mileage as my last tank was 52.4 MPG.
The real threat of the Prius and Insight has been their performance eviscerates the 'we can't do that' arguments of those ignorant, sissy, stupid idiots who prefer inefficient vehicles. Remember, these are the same managers who drove GM and Chrysler into bankruptcy.
Look, I don't mind the fleeting and soon forgotten comments of hybrid skeptics. My 2003 Prius is still getting better than 50 MPG after over
138,000 miles. It remains a hard fact the skeptics can insult but not match. Screw the liars!What it really comes down to is facts and data, something that fools can try to ignore but over time, fades into the obscurity it so richly deserves.
Bob Wilson