There is one structural problem about mileage that my friend complained about. He bought a new Honda and the mileage wasn't nearly as high as he hoped, because apparently new safety equipment adds a lot of weight to even small vehicles. His new Honda Fit gets 10MPG less than the Nissan that he traded in!

Green Party candidate for United States Congress Daniel Brezenoff has released the following statement regarding the new energy bill currently passing through the Senate:

"The energy bill now before the Senate, far from being any kind of solution to our economic and environmental crises, represents exactly the kind of thinking and legislating that has brought us to the point of crisis in the first place. Mandating 35 mile per gallon vehicles by 2020 is a bit like bailing out the Titanic with Dixie cups, or treating cancer with a Band-Aid. Ethanol is no answer either, as its total carbon output is comparable to that of fossil fuels, and it increases food prices, hurting working peole.

What this bill will accomplish is less than nothing; by 2020, the number of new drivers and new cars on the road will ensure that we produce more carbon, not less, than we do now, despite the new fuel standards.

These standards do not even attempt to slow down the pace at which we pollute the air and consume natural resources, let alone reverse the damage. Instead, they ensure that we will continue to consume and pollute at ever increasing levels, and only limit the rate of increase minimally. This bill is evidence that the Democrats have neither the intent nor the ability to address the environmental and economic problems they helped create, and are in fact only slightly less beholden to corporate interests than are Republicans.

We need zero emission vehicles. We need a solar grid. We need public transit. Cars that get 35 miles to the gallon are worse than an empty gesture; they are a false comfort in a time of emergency.

I call upon our representatives to reject this meaningless bill and go back to the drawing board, this time listening not to centrists, appeasers, and lobbyists, but instead to technological innovators and real environmental advocates.

As a member of the House of Representatives, I vow to craft legislation that offers real, sustainable solutions to the severe crises we face. I encourage our current Congressional legislators and all Americans to learn about my proposed "New Deal for sustainability," which provides a model for sustainable energy production and transportation in the 21st century. And I encourage voters in the 37th district to consider which candidate will provide real leadership on issues related to the environment, energy prices, and transportation when they vote this Tuesday"

Corporate Car Companies are Spoiled Brats

I will have no sympathy for our car companies because they are digging their own graves by slowing down mpg improvement. Perhaps they believe that peak oil does not exist or perhaps they want to keep their cars heavy and powerful to account for increased profits. It really doesn't matter to me because I know that as the price of fuel increases, people will, out of necessity, look to other sources of transport, even if it means purchasing fuel efficient vehicles from other countries.

Our country seems to be somewhat controlled by corporate interests but there is a limit to this control and that limit will soon be reached when it comes to making fuel inefficient cars. We want to move forward, not backwards and Detroit is pulling us down.

All the whining in the world is not going to make a difference when consumers become fed up with US made auto and truck gas guzzlers. Wake up before it is too late GM and Ford and do some good for yourself and your country. You've made your profits, now start manufacturing some good high mpg cars. Stop acting like spoiled brats.

adrianakau2aol.com

As a Michigan resident, I was very disappointed by the opposition my senators (Levin and Stabenow) put up to the original though CAFE standards legislation. Frankly, I am absolutely amazed that both the Auto Industry and its Unions still believe that higher CAFE standards would hurt them.

The only thing it would hurt is the 30 year old engines they still manufacture. They would have to upgrade their machinery, but they should anyway as part of regular product re-engineering to become more competitive with foreign firms.

Yes, if CAFE standards were raised to 35 mpg in a few year's time, it would be very damaging, but even five years would give them time to thoroughly modernize their technology. The ironic thing is that's what they should have done five years ago when they were still making huge profits.

I agree. Why isn't anyone complaining about the trashing of the Bingaman RPS amendment? I guess we like the award-winning green movies, but we don't do the things it takes to make change.

My 1986 Honda Civic - 1.5L & carbureted, got 44 mpg. However, 35 mpg fleet averages will be a vast improvement, particularly when one considers that the EPA has been using 'best case scenario' tests to determine a vehicle's fuel efficiency, which inflated the numbers.

anthonares - who still uses a 30 year old engine design?

Uh, in what alternate universe are you talking about that a V-8 powered '50s car gets 25MPG? Even the six-cylinder cars of that era didn't get that kind of mileage.

Simple solution to a simple problem: just cut the horsepower in half. High power is a want, not a need. Acceleration feeds ego and rarely has anything to do with safety. All the counter arguments, except for those who "must" two trailers, are bull.

One of the single biggest reasons that automotive MPG numbers are so low is all of the power-robbing smog equipment that is installed on modern engines.

Basically, you have two options:

Dirty exhaust + High MPG.... or
Clean exhaust + Low MPG

The smog equipment in a modern vehicle can take anywhere from 50-80 horsepower from an engine, and has to burn more gas to do it!

Granted, I think the exhaust SHOULD be clean, but you will lose fuel efficiency to do it. period.

I'm just waiting for diesels in passenger vehicles to finally be legal in California. That's one of the weird disadvantages to living in such a "progressive" state. The most fuel efficient vehicles in the world (DIESELS, for now) are outlawed here except in huge trucks.

If they aren't making cars w/ better mileage than that in a few years, they're going to be out of business (which will serve them right). Read up on peak oil, if you don't understand what I'm saying.

In 2020 we won't be driving petroleum-based cars, let alone in

Sheesh.

Our 2007 Malibu LS, which is very nice, gets 35 mpg. They are making these cars right now, and they are not expensive, have automatic transmission, AC, electric windows and mirrors, CD player and more. Other manufacturers are building similar cars, right now, today.

Buy these cars, and they will make more, and better ones. We bought one. On the highway at 60mph on cruise control it gets over 40 mpg, and it's not a hybrid. The manufactureers already have the tecnology to do this much, and they are for sale today.

If you must drive, and you need a new car, buy a good one.

Go to your dealer and tell them you want to buy an electric car. I did.

Tell them you want an electric car that runs on solar power from the cells on it's own roof. I did.

They CAN build cars like that, and they WILL if we tell them that we want them.

There is a hidden cost factor.You are ignoring.The service technician / dealership and factory.Your are charged between $60 and $100 an hour!!!!!Most of us cannot afford.

I have two autos.The first a 1978 ford bronco 351 modified / four speed manual / gear splitter AKA overdrive 27% / 4x4 3.55 gears.I get 15 - 18 mpg city and 23 - 25 mpg highway.With no emission's junk equipment.

The second is a 1979 ford f 250 for towing purposes.With a 460 / four speed manual / two gear splitter overdrives 27 % each / 4x4 4.10 gears.On this with smart driving.17 - 20 mpg city and 25 - 28 highway.

Best of all they are paid for / no technician needed.I don't own new and never will.I prefer to up old.Older autos are better in my view.They are stronger and more user friendly.I make them stronger safety / roll cages.

If a hybrid drive train was made that i could just drop in.I would use it.But it has to be user friendly.Not complicated as a Greek manual on a japan car.

Who cares about Detroit... I will buy an equally inexpensive Japanese car that gets better mileage, is longer lasting, wont rust out in 8 years and by doing so I will let the American auto industry know full well what I as a consumer demand in an automobile.

They either learn from the mistakes, or RIP as overseas manufacturers get a stronghold on North America. Gone are the days of "Buy American"... I buy what makes the most financial and environmental sense.

It's too bad that the North American auto sector has such a strong hold.. I would love to see some REAL European auto's here vs. the baby boomer specials that lack vision and ingenuity.

Ahhh.... I knew it ...

Older is better!

SEE SEE SEE .... JUST SEE

:)

''Go to your dealer and tell them you want to buy an electric car. I did.
Tell them you want an electric car that runs on solar power from the cells on it's own roof. I did.
They CAN build cars like that, and they WILL if we tell them that we want them.''
No they can't. Solar cells on a cars roof would provide about enough power to run the stereo, no way near enough to power the car.

I'm pretty sure I asked anthonares who still uses 30 year old engines too, is there a reason my comments arn't showing up?

Lol peak oil in 13 years, let alone it running out that quickly. We have reserves in tanks in the US that will last almost that long if oil ran out today. The tar sands have a huge amount of oil in them, it just takes more energy to get it out than is in the oil.

The biggest problem from fossil fuels right now is the crap they put into the air, not running out. Hopefully in 100 years we won't need to worry about running out, using only a trickle of what we do now.

Dale:

My father is something of a car buff, and he owns a 1957 Chevy 210 station wagon. It outweighs a comparable modern sedan, is built entirely out of heavy gauge sheetmetal and steel beams (as cars of that era often were) and has a 350 cubic inch carburated V8 backed by an inefficient, non-overdrive automatic transmission. It's not factory equipment, but it's 1960's technology at best, and a huge engine when compared to standard equipment today. An eco nightmare, right?

His average is 26 MPG. Consider that this car, a four door wagon, carries as much as a Ford Explorer. The curb weight for a four door 210 wagon (with 1957 overbuilt frame and sheetmetal) is 3,561 pounds, while the Ford is over 4300 pounds for a two wheel drive model. The 2005 six-cylinder Ford is rated at 19 MPG highway.

So, if anything, cars have gotten heavier, less powerful, and less efficient for a given cargo/passenger capacity since 1957.

Inexcusable, but true.

To everyone out there who wanted the Democrats in control, you have your wish and at the end of the day its the same stuff different day. I laughed when everyone thought that the elections would change anything. Boy do we need a good third party.

You people and your gas mpg. getting twice better MPG's only means your killing the world 1/2 as fast, big deal. Your also prolonging the problem. Corporations won't change from fossil fuels until they are depleted. If you want to help the world, do as I do... get a vehiicle that gets 13 mpg and don't have kids. That way, in 20 years, oil will be gone and a lot less people on the planet. Its a great solution!

hmm i must have the worst mpg ever...5-7 town and 10 mpg on a highway....yea the faster you push the thing the better gas milage it gets....but would you expect any less from a 350 horse 351 cleveland? im sorry world but i like my mustang and im not ganna stop driving it....they need to figure out somthing aside from gas that will keep good power in the old v8's too. im quite fond of my muscle car...and if you drove one regularly you would be too