2 ms·
We have a very short collective memory. While fuel prices have been quite low over the last ~3-5 years, most people forgot the period between 2008-2014 where fu
by zucked 4y ago
We have a very short collective memory. While fuel prices have been quite low over the last ~3-5 years, most people forgot the period between 2008-2014 where fuel was (relatively) expensive and went on right back to buying fuel inefficient SUVs and large trucks. Only TWO of the best selling vehicles in the US in 2021 were anything other than an SUV or pickup (Toyota Camry & Honda Civic). Now all of a sudden fuel is expensive again and people are being reminded of how expensive it can be to lug around a single person in a half-ton pickup every day.
- tablespoon 4y ago> We have a very short collective memory. While fuel prices have been quite low over the last ~3-5 years, most people forgot the period between 2008-2014 where fuel was (relatively) expensive and went on right back to buying fuel inefficient SUVs and large trucks. Which is perfectly rational. Why drive a car you don't want out of fear that gas prices may someday go up? The real solution is crank gas taxes up so high that the little people are forced to buy little cars or take the bus, like we think they ought to be doing.
- zucked 4y ago>Which is perfectly rational. Why drive a car you don't want out of fear that gas prices may someday go up? You don't have to buy a fuel efficient car today for an eventuality that may never happen, but you definitely don't have a leg to stand on when fuel gets more expensive and it suddenly costs you 10x more per month in fuel -- that's on (hypothetical) you.
- Zak 4y agoA less extreme option might be to stop giving larger vehicles a break on fuel economy standards. If car makers don't have to meet as strict a standard as long as the average car they sell is big, it's not hard to guess what kind of cars they'll try their best to sell.