Truck & SUV "solution" to Fuel Prices/Demand

[outrun]

Okay I am not trying to ignite any controversy on a customers rational/irrational for purchasing a Truck or SUV.

First regardless of the rise of China and India as energy consumers do trucks/SUVs globally have a major impact of gasoline consumption versus passenger cars, aircraft, turbine use etc?

What I was going to float as an idea was what if it was Mandated that all Trucks/SUVS in the United States must have DIESEL Engines. Second, except for Police/Emergency/Goverment/4+person car pool that no Trucks or SUVs would be permitted on the far left lane.

My going assumption is that BioDiesel would lower demand for crude here. The question of who serious of a dent it would be.

Would this make any dent-price relief for those with the *typically* higher MPG+ passenger passenger cars.

Thanks-

 

[Al]

None of it matters. I think that gas guzzlers are a [/b]good thing[/b] bc the supply of oil is finite. fewer mpg means less traffic, less road repair and fewer accidents. Less traffic means less delays which means more miles per gallon.

Don't fret about. If government stays out of it the market forces will solve the problem.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Demand for diesel fuel would certainly increase.

 

[rpn453]

quote:

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Originally posted by outrun:
What I was going to float as an idea was what if it was Mandated that all Trucks/SUVS in the United States must have DIESEL Engines. Second, except for Police/Emergency/Goverment/4+person car pool that no Trucks or SUVs would be permitted on the far left lane.

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NOOOOO! Not more government-mandated economics!

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by outrun:

What I was going to float as an idea was what if it was Mandated that all Trucks/SUVS in the United States must have DIESEL Engines.

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That would be worse than the ethanol boondoggle. Set performance standards, don't micro manage.

Definitely a bad idea. We would be better off with mandated efficiency standards, leaving manufacturers and consumers to decide how to best meet them.

Where we do need some more regulation is keeping energy costs under control so the towel heads(1) won't destroy our fledgling alternative energy projects by dropping the price of crude like they did before. Sometimes you need more market stability than the market itself can provide.

(1) Actually they shouldn't be called towel heads. Their headgear is made from a piece of a sheet, not a towel, so they should be called "sheet heads".

 

[Al]

quote:

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Originally posted by XS650:
"sheet heads".

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Hahahahahahahaha PC police will own you

 

[labman]

quote:

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Originally posted by XS650:

Originally posted by outrun:
[qb]
snip....

Where we do need some more regulation is keeping energy costs under control so the towel heads(1) won't destroy our fledgling alternative energy projects by dropping the price of crude like they did before. Sometimes you need more market stability than the market itself can provide.

(1) Actually they shouldn't be called towel heads. Their headgear is made from a piece of a sheet, not a towel, so they should be called "sheet heads".

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Now just a slight change of pronouncation....

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by labman:

quote:

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Originally posted by XS650:

Originally posted by outrun:
[qb]
snip....

Where we do need some more regulation is keeping energy costs under control so the towel heads(1) won't destroy our fledgling alternative energy projects by dropping the price of crude like they did before. Sometimes you need more market stability than the market itself can provide.

(1) Actually they shouldn't be called towel heads. Their headgear is made from a piece of a sheet, not a towel, so they should be called "sheet heads".

---

Now just a slight change of pronouncation....

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Durn, I hadn't noticed that

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

 

[Steve S]

It seems by the traffic in the Redding Calif. area that the price of gas doesn't bother anyone but the most conscientious. This comment kind of ties in with the Generation debt post.

 

[mechtech]

Diesel fuel takes much less refining than gasoline, yet is higher priced now.
Why?
Because of demand. Oil is diverted to gasoline production.
What would happen if a glut of diesel vehicles were mandated?

 

[Dan4510]

Calling for more government intervention for a problem that government intervention created is not the brightest idea.

Dan

 

[Kestas]

I understand that - despite the fact that diesel is cheaper to produce - it is more expensive in the US because our refinery infrastructure isn't geared to produce such a large percentage of diesel, whereas in Europe they are. We can only tweak the diesel/gasoline balance so far.

So perhpas we should be careful of wishing for diesel engines. If we get it, the demand for diesel fuel could send the prices even higher.

 

[The_Jeff]

I'd rather see highway speed limits dropped 5 mph for single driver SUVs.

Carpool, trade in, or drive slower.

Problem solved.

A doubling of the speed fine for a vehicle larger than a car would also be pretty neat and certainly plausible with crooked states looking for revenue enhancement.

To answer your initial question, that would tip the scales for folks choosing between home heating oil (diesel's twin brother) and another fuel like natural gas so it's a very crude solution that would have secondary/tertiary drawbacks.

 

[Auto-Union]

Specific licencing for vehicles >3000lbs?

 

[joatmon]

Well, well. Been a while since we've had an anti_SUV topic.

But, go ahead and pile on. The old Suburban and I can take it. If gas hits $20 a gallon, I'll be driving just like I do today, and just like I did yesterday. My driving habits are dictated by needs and wants, not by gasoline prices.

Happy Motoring,

Jack

PS: JHZR2, thanks for not participating.

 

[Vilan]

quote:

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Would this make any dent-price relief for those with the *typically* higher MPG+ passenger passenger cars.

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High MPG cars already have price relief. They use less gas. I figured out in another thread that over the last 5 years, my 40 mpg Metro saved me about $3000 in gas over a 25 mpg car.

People considering an SUV know full well what their gas mileage is. If they're OK with that, they buy it. If not, they look elsewhere. Capitalism at its finest.

 

[PandaBear]

SUV and trucks are not the only one that consume alot of gas. Many luxury cars do too.

If we were to ban SUV, I suggest banning anything V8 and anything sporty. Everyone can buy only Geo Metro unless they can prove to have a family of 5, then they can buy a minivan.

I can't imagine. (yes, I hate SUV myself too)

 

[labman]

Even the biggest luxury cars reach the high 20's on the road. No truck or SUV approaches that. Most of them are unneeded, excessive gas guzzlers. Every trip I take, I see no end of big trucks with 1-2 people and no more stuff than would fit in the trunk of my Cavalier.

 

[CMT]

quote:

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Originally posted by labman:
Even the biggest luxury cars reach the high 20's on the road. No truck or SUV approaches that. Most of them are unneeded, excessive gas guzzlers. Every trip I take, I see no end of big trucks with 1-2 people and no more stuff than would fit in the trunk of my Cavalier.

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Well gee golly, I wish I would have consulted with you before I bought my truck so you could have told me what I "needed." Apparently you know best....

As has already been said, people who drive "inefficient" vehicles pay for it by buying more gas. Period. We do not need any government regulation here. I even heartily disagree with stuff like CAFE and mandated safety standards. If fuel economy and safety are important to the driving public, that's what they will demand from the carmakers. If not, why does the government need to force it on us? Let the free market work...