Fuel Efficiency Still A Consumer Concern
According to a study by the Consumer Federation of America (PDF), relatively low gas prices haven’t done much to change consumer trends towards more fuel-efficient vehicles. This revelation comes amid claims that small car demand was artificially inflated by high gas prices and increased truck production from General Motors. The survey asked respondents to rate the importance of gas prices, global warming and US dependence on Middle East oil over the next five years, with 76 percent reporting “great concern” for gas prices and energy independence.
“Despite pump prices averaging less than $2.00, Americans still plan to significantly increase the fuel economy of their cars when they make their next purchase,” concludes CFA Public Affairs Director Jack Gillis. Pointing out that only 1.4 percent of new car models for sale in the US get over 30mpg, the CFA argues that automakers will be hard pressed to woo car shoppers who seem convinced that Gas will reach $3 per gallon before their next purchase. “At least to date, Americans view low gas prices as an aberration,” says Gillis. “Expecting higher gas prices in the future, they are adjusting their driving habits as well as planning to purchase more fuel efficient vehicles. Stronger fuel efficiency standards not only respond to clear consumer expectations but will be critical to the survival of the U.S. auto industry.”
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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I have to say that any lead-up to $100 per barrel pricing of oil would pretty well kill the goose that lays the golden eggs for the middle-eastern arab, crazy venezuelan dictators and russian oil barons/ex KGB guys. If/when it happens, the global economy will totally collapse into a heap. Because it already nearly has. We actually already hit peak-oil * (though virtually nobody wants to admit it) and what we are seeing right now, is PARTLY due to the fall-out of the results of that occurring right around October 2007, with the prices peaking in July / August 2008. Followed immediately by almost total collapse of the worldwide economy within six months. Can't be a coincidence, therefore - it surely isn't a coincidence. It's just that nobody else is taking the obvious idea that once again (still) Two Plus Two Equals Four * "who says"? One of the premier experts in the oil field stated it was so, in 2008 as prices were going up. He also indicated that worldwide DEMAND for oil exceeded SUPPLY of oil and that we were busy, as a world, "eating our seed-corn" and using up all reserves put aside for a rainy day just on day-by-day demand. In plain english, the taps were running slower than the drain in the bottom of the tub. People can bitch and whine about the obvious fact that there WAS some manipulation of pricing of oil; but this doesn't take away from the FACT that we DID reach global peak-oil. Just as it is now well known that the United States reached domestic peak-oil in about 1969. Followed by massive increases in oil imports, followed by the Arabs turning off the taps in 1973 due to yet another war against the Jews, during which we supported our friends (Israel) instead of our obvious enemies (as we have obviously seen ever since).
I buy efficient vehicles b/c I keep them a long time. No way am I going to buy a 17 mpg vehicle as a daily driver and worry if gas is going to spike again. I know for certain that gasoline will be significantly higher in ten years than it is now. My current daily drivers are 12 and 10 years old. Let's just say that my financial choices are very conservative expecting a rainy day around every corner. FWIW I also have a ~20 mpg VW camper from the 70's in case I want to burn a copious (relative to my 25 mpg fwd VW) amount of fuel... VBG! Folks buying low mileage vehicles either have very short attention spans or just didn't worry about what $4 per gallon gas was doing to their budget (small part of their budget).
A few years ago I changed out most of the light bulbs in my house to compact fluorescents. Not the reading lights but every light I could get to. In closets, the garage, nightlights, ceiling fans and backgound lights. At the time my pay one price year round electric bill was $150 a month. It gradually started going down and a year ago was $75 a month. It has now gone up to $100 a month after I had a new A/C installed presumably because I use the new one more. In just one year I have saved $600 for these simple changes.