Why are we still manufacturing huge gas-guzzling vehicles?

Question

I just don't get it. Gas prices are ridiculous. In the 70's, there was a gas crisis and the government and car manufacturers responded by making "economy cars" like the Pacer (yeah it was ugly but it got great gas milage). Why aren't we doing that now? And why it is that the car commercials are for big heavy duty trucks?! If we made non-gas powered vehicles, wouldnt that lower the demand for gasoline: consumer power is much more effective than gun power, isn't it?

Okay--I should have placed more emphasis on gas-guzzling versus NON-GAS POWERED.. My sister and her husband are farmers and I understand their need and use and do not discout either. ( I remain a city girl afraid of horses). Non-pas powered does not mean non-powerful or small. The Pacer was an example and it and its cousins the result of demand. To continue with supply and demand: if we use other powered vehicles--gas won't be as in demand, supply of it will increase, and prices will go down. (Isn't that the basics?)

Answer 1

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The answer to this question is a bit sad. There exists technology right now, today, that can do everything the big gas guzzlers do cleaner and cheaper. Few people know or believe it can be done, because for the most part, we believe exactly what we're told to believe. There is little incentive, on the part of industry, to promote this technology because it will hurt their profitability if it is widely adopted.
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Okay, here comes the proof. Take a look at this car. This vehicle was developed with NO government funding, and no involvement from any major automakers:
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http://phoenixmotorcars.com/models/fleet.html
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The Phoenix electric pickup truck - using new, advanced Altairnano batteries (based on research from MIT) - can:

-Travel up to 250 miles per charge
-Carry 5 passengers plus cargo at 95mph.
-Charges batteries in as little as TEN MINUTES.
-Has batteries that last 250,000 miles (never need replacement.)
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Yes, it is a real car - being manufactured right now for fleet customers like PG&E. But wait, there's more - here's another vehicle using the same batteries:
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http://www.slashgear.com/zap-x-suv-is-644bhp-electric-monster-303661.php
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This "electric monster" sports 644 horsepower, and will do 155mph. It has a 350-mile range, and can also recharge in 10 minutes.
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Electric cars do not pollute very much even if the powerplants do - because they are several times more efficient than gas vehicles (less energy per mile means less pollution per mile.)This means they conserve a lot more fuel, and are cheaper to drive. I drive an electric vehicle (a very old one.) It only costs me about a penny per mile in electricity.
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EVs are also very cheap to maintain. Electric motors have only one moving part, and can go decades with no maintenance at all. This is why carmakers don't want to make them.
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Finally, are EVs too expensive? Well, anything that is not mass produced will be too expensive. But EVs have fewer parts than conventional autos, and can be very cheap if built in a large factory. Here's proof. Look at these Chinese mass-produced EVs, and cheak out the prices. They start at $6500:
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http://fevehicle.com/services.html
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Answer 2

God you're simple! The only reason gas prices are high is because we have a Texas oil man in the White House! Why do you think he invaded Iraq under the pretense of weapons of mass destruction? Well they weren't there but WE still are! I read somewhere that Exxon/Mobil is making $1,348 in PROFIT per SECOND! There IS no fuel shortage! Secondly, if you compare a hybrid that gets 60MPG and seats 2 people (Honda Insight) to a Chevy Suburban SUV that seats 9 and gets 15 MPG (city) you "effect" 120MPG per vehicle in the hybrid(2x 60mpg) and "effect" 135 MPG in the Suburban (9x15) ! Imagine all the cars that would be on the road if we got rid of the high occupany SUV's and replaced them with 2-4 seat hybrids, which, by the way, STILL USE GASOLINE! If you want to stop using gasoline, put your money where your big mouth is and go buy a Tesla. It's totally electric and puts out no emissions. It costs $93,000 , but if you're sincere about your cause you'll take out a second mortgage. Oh and IT only seats two, so I guess you'll have to also buy an SUV to: carry the dogs, do the carpool, pick up the kids, haul stuff , drive in the snow, tow ANYTHING, help friends move, etc, etc. If you want to make a difference in gas prices BOYCOTT EXXON/MOBILE ! They still haven't paid for the Valdeez spill in Alaska!

Answer 3

Another simple question to answer. Th ebiggest business in the USA is Oil, in fact it is the biggest business in the world. The concept of he who controls oil controls the world contains more truth than anything ever imagined.

Why do we continue to produce these large vehicles, because the suburban soccer moms and dads don't feel like a complete unit unless they are driving the largest land yacht on the planet. Car are no longer a means of transportation that have become a symbol of status within a community. If George B buys the Chevy Suburban, his Joe A. wants the GMC Denali so each one can out do the other. They don't need those vehicles it has just become a standard to show I am a person, and that is completely sad.

Answer 4

Since Bush is in office right now and has big big ties to the oil industry thats a bit scary. I feel since not everyone can or will just stay home from friday-sunday and leave the car sit without filling up with gas, we need smaller cars we can afford to drive. We do need to drive to work to make a check the government gets to see and take taxes out of before we receive our share. Believe me it's been done before. Suffer for a day and leave the car parked. When the gas isn't selling the price war will be on to get you to their gas station to get gas. We allow ourselves to be charged whatever they want. We gave them the right by not walking, not taking a bus, or not buying one large van and car pool. So we need to take back the right to pay what we want not what they want to fill their pockets and bank accounts draining ours. Prices go up when there's a demand for something. Well, lets all quit demanding to have gas and they'll lower the prices. But till this happens they need to provide the people with cars that use less gas and are made with quality. Get rid of the 8 cylinders and make the biggest 4 cylinders and 6 cylinders only. Then the car market will do much better.

Answer 5

People like big cars trucks suv's.

As long as they are profitable car companies will continue to make and sell them

It's a free market.


besides, prices in the 70's skyrocketed making high prices now look cheap in comparison. That forced people to take interest in cars that used less gas, and the automobile industry responded to that demand by supplying economy cars.

They weren't doing anything noble trust me they just saw an oppurtunity to make money and did it.

Fact is there are some gas saving cars out there, but people still buy the gas guzzlers.


And your right about the gun power thing =)

Answer 6

Well the key is we STOPPED making them exclusively here in the USA... we had the Ford Escort and others... but as gas prices stabilized and the economy improved... folks went back to bigger cars.

The Auto makers paid BIG money to Congress to have the CAFE standards (mileage) remain at 1980's levels... and then to have the requirement to include MPG in each auto-ad was removed.

THEN the in the early '80s cute lil Toyota and Datsun pickups got aftermarket fiberglass camper-shells... Toyota made a BRILLIANT move and created the Pathfinder... a pickup with seats for everyone !!

After the Pathfinder took off, the US manufacturers created the SUV... also backed with a lower tax-rate and CAFE standard because they are "trucks"... meant for farmers.

FOA's response is alittle harsh... my family drove VW Buses for decades... more space and FAR better mileage that ANY SUV.

Sadly it's the fault of Congress and Detroit... and the Consumer !! Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, it's AMAZING how many SUV's are still driving about (no need to offroad or drive thru snow)... and so many have "Save the Whales" or "Clinton/Gore" bumper stickers !!

I ride my bike or walk if it's under 3 miles... and take the train if more... I have a bio-diesel truck for work and trips.

Answer 7

Unless government mandates what cans we drive, the larger vehicle will still be produced. Ford and GM earn most of their profits from these large trucks, SUV's and sedans. The market demands the vehicles, as well as sports cars like Mustang. The car buying public wants horsepower which needs gasoline.

Edit- Ever notice the much of the environment movement is made up of socialists and ex-patriot communists. The Kyoto Accords deal more with reapportionment of national wealth that than "cleaning up" the globe. China and India are exempt from it (they have the fastest energy consuption rate over the past few years). How can you NOT include 1/4 of the world's population, get serious. So many of the evironmentis t want the worlds money, ironic that is the motivation blamed on polluters.

Answer 8

I'm with you. However, I am a firm believer that MTV and Hollywood determine a good bit of our culture (unfortunately). It's "hot" to have towering, gas-guzzling monstrosities. As long as these pathetic excuses for role models continue to have such a drastic effect on consumer spending, we're just outta luck. Sad, but true. All you can do is keep up the good fight and hope that logic eventually wins out.
And for the naysayers that claim they need these things to transport children, equipment, etc.: My siblings and I did just fine in my parents' 4-door sedan. It's one thing if a large vehicle is truly a necessity. It's another entirely if you just enjoy the luxury.

Answer 9

1. To support the oil industry. Basically, until we use up most of the oil, we will be driving on petrol.
2. Because some people need SUV's, like farmers mentioned above or others. Whats strange is that many people have SUV's, but don't need them. NEW RULE: You need a permit to buy a SUV... that would work out.
3. Battery cars ARE NOT BETTER than diesel cars in efficiency. Proof, compare a Toyota Prious and a VW Fox diesel. Surprisingly has same and sometimes better gas mileage. This translates into less credibility towards "eco" cars.

Answer 10

Here is a DVD to watch " Who Killed the Electric Car?" It is excellent and it will answer your question. Oil companies and car companies are one in the same - " big business corporations", they will not do anything that harms there bottom-line. Car companies own oil stock and oil companies own car-maker stocks. Additionally they have become so powerful that they dictate what we will drive more so than the consumer. That is why SUV's have big block engines and the real gas saving cars made in Europe and Asia are not for sell in the US and all the electric cars made in the 90's were leased and then collected and destroyed by the automakers.

And to answer the non gas power question, you are exactly right. The electric car will kill the oil companies.

Please watch the DVD.