why doesnt Congress get the Auto execs to testify and ask about high MPG cars

[LSK]

And ask GM what happened to the EV1 and why they sell the cars like the Hummer?

[libnnc]

1. good questions

time to watch Who Killed the Electric Car? again

:kick:

[electropop]

2. Yes, that would be a lot easier than just mandating high MPG cars.

And conveniently avoids Congress having to actually do their job.

[LSK]

3. they can do both you know....

Its not like they can only do one thing or the other.

[Book Lover]

4. Because the auto execs will say

that vehicles are heavier and therefore less fuel-efficient than "overseas" vehicles due to federal NHTSA mandates.

GM will show the committee how much money they lost on the EV1 project (yes, due to the way they structured the lease setup, but they will have impressive numbers, maybe even a powerpoint)

GM will also point to fleet breakdowns and show that Hummers were what people were buying, and why should they manufacture vehicles that will not move off the lot?

Congress humiliating the Detroit nobility will not result in any progress in getting the Big Two and a Half to manufacture more fuel-efficient vehicles. Revamping NHTSA to conform better with European methods of implementing safety standards will move the US closer to getting the cool Euro cars than any ritual paddling.

[LSK]

6. ok, but what was the point in CRUSHING the EV1

The few remaining ones have been disabled. Why did they do that?

[depakid]

5. Why would they do that. Congress ENCOURAGED their behavior

time and time again over the years. Democratic and Republican politicians are just as much to blame for huge SUV's as the automakers are.

Pox on both their houses, as far as I'm concerned.

[Tab]

7. They do, because people wanted them and they can

and profit margins on those things are heuuuugh!11!

And they don't care about the MPG. You may not realize it, but the auto industry successfully lobbied Congress to classify SUVs as "trucks" and therefore not subject to the CAFE standards (minimal fuel performance (MPG) requirements)).

When my dad passed away a few years ago, a friend of my family was unable to find a flight, so a friend of HIS lent him his Hummer.

At 8 mpg, he found it would have been cheaper to fly. And that's when gas was still something approaching reasonable.

I notice the local Hummer dealers are now offering leases for something like $239/mo. They're having a heard time even giving them away. Must be a sucky time to be a Hummer salesman.

[Clear Blue Sky]

8. Because people by them.

But as gas prices go up, they stop buying them. You can get a great deal on a big SUV right now.