SUV Owners Say "Not So Fast"

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SUV Owners Say "Not So Fast"
Friday, May 25, 2007



As Capitol Hill considers legislation that would force automakers to increase the fuel economy achieved by the array of vehicles they sell, at least one group is urging a more measured approach to the issue.

"In the rush to 'do something' to lessen our dependence on foreign oil and cut greenhouse gases, the Senate Commerce Committee's actions may have done more to hurt consumers than solve either of these problems," said Barry W. McCahill, president of SUV Owners of America.

What the committee did is considered to be another round in what is expected to be a multi-round bout on legislation that would dramatically raise fuel economy standards (called Corporate Average Fuel Economy -- CAFE) for passenger cars and trucks, including pickups and SUVs. For the first time, the proposed law would extend fuel economy mandates to heavy tractor-trailers and buses.

McCahill pointed to history as an insight into what the future might hold. "Fuel economy requirements were put in place more than 30 years ago with the intent of reducing our dependence on foreign oil. In 1975, the U.S. imported 35 percent of its oil supply," he said in a statement. "Today, we import more than 60 percent of our oil. Clearly, it is an energy policy that has failed. But what does the Senate Commerce Committee do? It mandates more of the same. Why should we believe that making changes to a program that has provided no benefits in the past would work now? Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) is a tired horse with a performance record so bad that nobody should even bet a penny on it."

McCahill suggests a better approach would be to get America off of oil and onto bio-fuels and incentivize new technologies like highly fuel-efficient clean diesels and other clean burning technologies. He says that only then will we make progress toward cutting our oil use, further cleaning the environment.
"There's no free lunch at this CAFE and consumers need to know it before they are served a very expensive meal," McCahill concluded.