05-21-2007, 05:33 PM
Well, 25 mpg is probably about right for the average American personal car/truck, including pickups and SUVs but not things like semis and earth pans. We certainly drive more efficient vehicles than we did in the 60s. This is "pretty good" as you say, but perhaps only from the American perspective. There do exist much smaller, more efficient vehicles that we frankly wouldn't be willing to drive if they were offered to us free of charge.
Of course it is not that simple. Like your example of the kid from Montana, this applies to a pretty large portion of the population in fact. Anyone who works for a living (not the same as having an occupation) is likely to need extra space for gear. Or if you have a family of 4+ and you get two 35 mpg sedans, you will drive everywhere in 2 cars and may be more efficient in a single SUV plus a sedan for the one with longest work commute, or even more efficient yet in a minivan. Even with a family of 3, good luck going on a skiing or biking trip using a subcompact car! It's also hard to fit a drum set or a tuba or a Little League team's soccer or baseball gear. There is almost no chance of an active family without some reasonably large vehicle, and only the upper class can make car payments and insurance payments on an extra vehicle in the name of fuel efficiency.
There are a lot of conservation efforts in the United States, but of course there is always plenty of waste and excess as well. Seattle is not necessarily typical with regards to the U.S. when it comes to environmental issues. Isn't Ralph Nader considered a viable politician there?
Of course it is not that simple. Like your example of the kid from Montana, this applies to a pretty large portion of the population in fact. Anyone who works for a living (not the same as having an occupation) is likely to need extra space for gear. Or if you have a family of 4+ and you get two 35 mpg sedans, you will drive everywhere in 2 cars and may be more efficient in a single SUV plus a sedan for the one with longest work commute, or even more efficient yet in a minivan. Even with a family of 3, good luck going on a skiing or biking trip using a subcompact car! It's also hard to fit a drum set or a tuba or a Little League team's soccer or baseball gear. There is almost no chance of an active family without some reasonably large vehicle, and only the upper class can make car payments and insurance payments on an extra vehicle in the name of fuel efficiency.
There are a lot of conservation efforts in the United States, but of course there is always plenty of waste and excess as well. Seattle is not necessarily typical with regards to the U.S. when it comes to environmental issues. Isn't Ralph Nader considered a viable politician there?