78% of Americans support 40+ mpg CAFE standards by 2010

[The Toecutter]

Even as major automakers and some federal lawmakers try to slam the brakes on plans to accelerate federal fuel-efficiency vehicle standards, more than three out of four Americans (76 percent) -- including 78 percent of 2008 voters -- want Congress to raise the mile-per-gallon (MPG) requirement sharply now to 40 mpg by 2010 rather than waiting to reach a more modest MPG goal by 2018, according to a major new Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) survey conducted for the nonprofit Civil Society Institute (CSI) think tank and its 40MPG.org project.

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However, the technology for this is here and has been here for decades, and would entail no sacrifice on part of the consumer:

http://www.pavilionboards.com/forum/...ead.php?t=6084

The auto industry refuses to do its part.

[Rodak]

Re: 78% of Americans support 40+ mpg CAFE standards by 2010

Being the Video Geek that I am...

I thought this was about a new mpg file format!!

Just for a moment...

But I thought it!!

But on topic...

I'm stunned that people actually buy those gas eating things these days.

My 1st car - in the 1970's - got 52 Miles Per Gallon! (A Datsun, I believe).

I thought things would get Better over time, not worse!!

Shows what I know.

[tjoris9]

Re: 78% of Americans support 40+ mpg CAFE standards by 2010

Such irony that the oil industry has become a dinosaur. Massive in size, but bearing such a tiny mind it cannot fathom the ****storm it's bringing on itself.

It's time to shoot the old horse.

[Red Dragon]

Re: 78% of Americans support 40+ mpg CAFE standards by 2010

I take public transportation that uses biofuels.

In other words I don't have a car.

[The Toecutter]

Re: 78% of Americans support 40+ mpg CAFE standards by 2010

My 1st car - in the 1970's - got 52 Miles Per Gallon! (A Datsun, I believe).

Datsun 1200? Those things were awesome. They make good electric conversions due to their low weight and fairly low drag.

Such irony that the oil industry has become a dinosaur. Massive in size, but bearing such a tiny mind it cannot fathom the ****storm it's bringing on itself.

It's just going to pass the ****storm onto us. Ever hear of peak oil? I agree, it is time to shoot the old horse, but it just isn't going down without a huge fight.

I take public transportation that uses biofuels.

In other words I don't have a car.

The fact that you actually have access to public transit puts you in a better position than most Americans. I wish public transit was good enough where I live to where I didn't need to drive and cheap enough to where it would actually be less than gas costs... Unfortunately that's not the case for me.

[Red Dragon]

Re: 78% of Americans support 40+ mpg CAFE standards by 2010

The fact that you actually have access to public transit puts you in a better position than most Americans. I wish public transit was good enough where I live to where I didn't need to drive and cheap enough to where it would actually be less than gas costs... Unfortunately that's not the case for me.

Yeah, I am very lucky. Once I start in my new college the bus will be completely free.

[tjoris9]

Re: 78% of Americans support 40+ mpg CAFE standards by 2010

It's just going to pass the ****storm onto us. Ever hear of peak oil? I agree, it is time to shoot the old horse, but it just isn't going down without a huge fight.

Actually I'm talking about consumer revolts. Whether it's peaceful (increasing popularity of biofuels and electric vehicles) or violent (riots and assassinations).

[Alex]

Re: 78% of Americans support 40+ mpg CAFE standards by 2010

The other 22% own SUV's.

[The Toecutter]

Re: 78% of Americans support 40+ mpg CAFE standards by 2010

Actually I'm talking about consumer revolts. Whether it's peaceful (increasing popularity of biofuels and electric vehicles) or violent (riots and assassinations).

The popularity of biofuel and electric cars is already here, at least the popular demand is. The only problem is that there aren't many available; only small businesses are making them and since small businesses have no mass production capability, their cars are hand-built and expensive.

Odds are good that either we will never see a large mainstream penetration(> 30% of market) of EVs and alternative fuel vehicles, or things will turn very violent as the oil industry, federal government, and auto industry resort to more extreme measures to protect their sources of revenue. Hell, they've killed a few million villagers in Nigeria and turned the country into a giant toxic waste dump to get more oil, killed 600,000 in Iraq in 2003 and millions more before that, set up a dictator in Iran in the 1950s because the population voted in a Candidate that wanted to kick British Petroleum out of their country, have attemped multiple coups against Hugo Chavez of Venezuela because he threatens to cut off oil to the U.S...

Get this. As politicians are gearing up to attack Iran, Iran is putting huge amounts of money into nuclear powerplants and solar panels; their nationalized auto industry will soon be producing hybrid-electric and pure-electric cars. Kind of sad that America will soon be behind a 3rd-world ****hole dictatorship in terms of alternative energy.