Should SUVs be banned? Bush said we have to save gas?

Question

Bush said in his State of the Union that we have to greatly cut our oil /gas consumption for national security.. SUVs are notorious gas guzzlers. So should they be banned? If not how can we cut that much oil consumption?

Answer 1

The first thing would be to simply increase the standards for MPG. We have by far the lowest mpg standards of any western country. We are even behind China. They have figured out how to make SUVs get better gas mileage, so we can too.

Answer 2

In a nutshell they should not be banned, and the most fuel efficient would be a diesel hybrid. Read on to see why this will not happen very soon, even though it is the best method. The only thing holding us back from being more fuel efficient is OURSELVES. Here me out on this. We live in a free market economy. That means that nearly ALL the power (despite goverment regulations) lies in the hands of the consumer. Not as the consumer as individuals, but as all the consumers all a whole. Diesels are more efficient and get better gas mileage than gasoline engines, they are also much more powerful. Diesel also takes less refining to make than gasoline. We have all seen the electric gasoline hybrid, but where is the diesel hybrid? The most efficient car would be a 1.5L Inline 4 cylinder diesel engine with a continuously variable transmission, that was also a hybrid (had an additional electric motor). It saves gas because it has the most fuel efficient automatic transmission, it has a small engine (it doesnt need a big one because diesel is more powerful anyway), and diesel gets great mileage so in combination with a hybrid you could expect about actually 50MPG city or even 60MPG. Of course, this would not be good for towing at all, but just for trips around town and maybe a long trip without much luggage it would be great. We could all have still have the big SUVs for the long family vacations. Why do we not build this? BECAUSE THE CONSUMERS (US) DONT WANT DIESEL! Why? Diesel is usually more noisy than gasoline engines, and also vibrates more, it also has slightly more pollution. However, with the new ULTRA-LOW sulfer standards for diesel fuel and the addtives for it, pollution is virtually the same as gasoline. People just dont want the little extra noise and vibration. That is slowly being diminished with technology. The fact is, the car companies don't make these diesel hybrids because they wouldn't make much profit on them. If America AS A WHOLE came together and demanded these vehicles we could get them. But most of us either prefer the quietus most comforable ride, or the biggest interior space, or the most powerful truck available, over the best fuel economy. Until America wants better fuel economy as a whole, or until some extremely strict legislation is passed. Don't expect to see much saving fuel. I apolegize for this being so long, I'm in a ecomoics class and I get kinda passionate about how this works, so I really got into explaining it. I hope my information helps.

Answer 3

Ultimately no ban on SUVs will ever be seriously entertained because the market has already demonstrated a strong demand for the product. Generally it is very difficult to ban something that people desire so strongly, and that is so pervasive to begin with. Elimination of a product is not the key to our excessive gas consumption, pollution problems, and reliance on foreign oil.

The only real way to alleviate our problem with respect to oil is to invest in the rapid development of more fuel-efficient technologies, in products that use alternate fuel sources, and in research into the extraction of alternate fuel sources.

Were we are stymied in this effort is we have a President and an entire government run by people who have a vested interest in the profitability of the oil industry. They are too interconnected to oil to sincerely desire alternatives that will cut into their pocket books and their business colleagues’ bottom lines. We need to elect a President and Congressional representatives who we know are disconnected from the oil and gas industry. It should be a major consideration for who you are going to vote for in the next Presidential and Congressional elections.

Answer 4

I used to live in Long Island, NY, where there are more SUV's than cars now, it seems (if you saw the parking lots of the bowling alley and malls this weekend!).
Well, now I live Upsate (and visit LI every weekend).
I am no longer in a flat areas with few real hills.
I am in the mountains!!!
And there is no way that some people can even get onto tehir property in the snow without SUV's.

I mean, that little Subaru outback would be buried!

Answer 5

I don't think they should be banned. However those who do drive them but don't need them (to make a living) should be ashamed of tehmselves for being so wasteful. I do like what England does: they tax the size of the engine. The larger the engine, the more costly it is to buy (and I think re-register). That might change some peoples minds about buying vehicles with unnessisarlily large engines.

Answer 6

You don't seriously believe Bush do you? He just wants to make a base for raising gas prices again. What is the deal with all his oil wells in Texas sitting idle so he can manipulate supply and demand. How do we know there is a gas shorage anyway. We have just been told this but how do we know?

Answer 7

If you're not getting at least 20 miles to the gallon,you,my friend,are contributing to the problem...so,with that said,bend over and take your punishment..!! Pick up that flyer that says gas just went to $6 bucks a gallon, oh! well, I get about 30,MPG so "bring em on"..... I'd better buy some stock in "for sale" signs,Huh?

Answer 8

Sorry, but some of us actually have a NEED for large vehicles. We run a (very very small) farm and I NEED my F350 to haul critters and tractors around.

I think people who live in cities but refuse to take public transportation should have to pay some kind of pollution tax. I would LOVE to take the bus to work - but the nearest bus stop *is* at work - kinda defeats the purpose.

Maybe those Hollywood liberals who ***** about my truck could park their private jets and fly with the rest of us. Think how much fuel THAT could save! I won't hold my breath, though...

Answer 9

I liked my Ford Explorer Sport, but traded it in on a PT Cruiser Turbo.

Answer 10

The state of the Union speech is mandatory. It's content and honesty are not.

Yes, SUVs should be banned. They block my view when I drive my mini - lol.