Quote:
|
Originally Posted by lars-ss
A "plain ole Echo" with a tax credit is not going to stimulate too many buyers - PLUS, it means "same old thing" in regard to a fully ICE car. We need help to stimulate interest in the newer, cleaner, BETTER technology, not the same old same old.
|
Well, I'm one of those who's not yet convinced a gas-electric car is automatically better than a just plain gas car. I look at Europe, and I see the "plain gas" cars at 55 miles per u.s.-gallon, and I'm amazed. They're outperforming the hybrids with nothing more amazing than good aerodynamics, efficient engines, and smart engineering.
I'd rather encourage Americans to buy a 55 mpg "plain gas" car, than a 30 mpg hybrid car.
BTW, you said MPG is not that important, "just a piece of the puzzle", but I strongly disagree. I think MPG is *the* most important piece, that eclipses all other objectives. MPG affects the whole chain. High MPG cars reduce pollution by:
- burning less fuel
- requiring less tanker trucks carrying fuel to the station
- less refineries spewing chemicals
- fewer oil tankers crossing the ocean
- less need to pull oil out of the desert
We have to look past the car, and examine the entire pollution chain. Burning less gas, helps clean up the *whole* chain.
troy