if americans drove smaller cars would they need so much oil?

Question

if the petrol was taxed higher and use of smaller engines promoted wouldnt they need less oil from other countries and be more self sufficient?

or have they already done this and stopped riding around in those big 3 litre + monsters we saw in the movies?

not a piss take or knocking usa!

Answer 1

it's been a long standing in America that cars have been a major status symbol, and often in that mentality bigger=better whether it be a limo or a hummer. If a large enough portion of the population drove more fuel efficient cars, then yes we'd be less dependant on oil imports. With the rising popularity of e85 ethenol and hybrid type cars it may change anyway, and with the 60 mile per gallon Smart Car comes is 2008 we'll see how it does.

Answer 2

Many of the newer model cars have required oil changes at 5000 miles vs the old 3000 mile rule. So no, they would not use as much oil if you got them changed every 5000. But having a small car or motercycle would not work for everyone. Some people have large families, so they might need a minivan or SUV. Other people with disabilities also require a larger vehicle. Those are all things you have to take into consideration with your equation!!

Answer 3

well really i think every one should cycle wherever they're going unless we can figure out how to extract hydrogen fuel cells safely and cheaply which won't be for a while. But yeah, i suppose if the used smaller engined cars they could use less oil but still i think another source we can turn to is biomass fuel, which is basically extracting oil from plants. It's cheaper, somewhat cleaner and most of all, will (hopefully) stop all the wars with the middle east for oil.

That's what i think.

Answer 4

quite a few americans have down sized to smaller or smaller engined cars..another answer says big cars and people carriers are popular in the uk..yes they are ..i drive one...but it runs on lpg..ok its gives 20% less mileage than petrol..but it is greener and it also only costs 48.9p a litre..my engine has done 80000 miles on gas..but has the wear of an engine that has done 20000miles..so i am well happy...saving money...and helping the enviroment..and the car will proberly outlast me..lol

Answer 5

If the number of cars remained the same they would not use more fuel;but the number of cars is always increasing,so the answer is subject to the number remaing static,which at the present time is not the case;if the current down turn in the economy continues then there could be a reduction in the number of cars in use,which would of course reduce demand for fossil fuel.

Answer 6

Okay, just for the sake of picking, I have to say it...This is a fairly stupid question (nothing personal). It's kinda like asking, "if people drink more water, will they have to pee more?". I mean, really...if we all drove cars that used less gas, then for sure, we wouldn't need so much gas.

FYI, American sales of trucks and SUV's has dropped (by about 6%, but I don't recall what time period this number reflects), and car sales have increased (by about 3%, but again, the time period eludes me).

Answer 7

We tried this in the late 1970's

The general population didn't care for the small cars.

There are very few cars available today that compare in size to cars back then ( or in gas mileage, average in sixties or seventies was 15mpg)

The problem in the Us has more to do with the vast distances, public transportation only works in large cities, and truly small cars won't stand up to extended highway speeds.

Answer 8

It's a fact ! We Americans are gluttons and we love our SUV. It just seems like a normal everyday thing for us to have these big vehicles on our roads and it's hard to imagine life without them once you have one ! This is a good question and it is a fact we we would consume much less if we would drive smaller lighter more efficient vehicles !

Answer 9

Myself, I drive old classics. I don't like many of these new cars. Yes they use a little more gas but ironically, my cars pass emission tests with less emissions than the new cars with all their emission crap. My son had a big Cadillac a few years ago, it had a northstar V8 in it. Nice big luxury car. It got 24 MPG in the city. His fiance made him sell it and get a new, little weenie car. it gets 19 MPG. Oh yeah, this is progress!

Answer 10

Some people have a business to run, requiring trucks or large vehicles.

America has PLENTY of our own oil, but the tree huggers protecting some stupid plant or insignificant insect prevent us from getting it out of the ground.