American cars are uniquely big, expensive, and inefficient.
Here's the best-selling car in America last year (right) vs. the best-seller in Europe (left).
So why are American cars so big?
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Here's the best-selling car in America last year (right) vs. the best-seller in Europe (left).
So why are American cars so big?
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The screenshot above comes from a video I just published on the weird loophole that made American cars so big.
If you want the 10 min version of the story, check out that video.
For those that want the 2 min version, below is a quick summary..
youtube.com
If you want the 10 min version of the story, check out that video.
For those that want the 2 min version, below is a quick summary..
youtube.com
In 1975, the United States passed a law that forced automakers to double the average fuel efficiency of their vehicles to 27.5 miles per gallon by 1985.
For a few years, the bill worked as intended.
The average fuel efficiency of American vehicles went from 13 MPG in 1975 to 19 MPG in 1980.
But then something strange happened.
The average fuel efficiency of American vehicles went from 13 MPG in 1975 to 19 MPG in 1980.
But then something strange happened.
After leveling off between 1980 and 1985, average fuel efficiency actually fell over the next 20 years.
So what happened?
So what happened?
The short answer is that auto lobbyists happened.
At the last minute, auto lobbyists convinced Congress to make a subtle change to the billβs text.
They got the fuel efficiency standards for trucks to be set separately from cars.
At the last minute, auto lobbyists convinced Congress to make a subtle change to the billβs text.
They got the fuel efficiency standards for trucks to be set separately from cars.
The revised bill basically said, βEvery *small car* has to hit 27.5 miles per gallon.β
The truck standards would be set separately in a process that was much easier to corrupt.
So what'd automakers do?
They started making bigger cars in order to avoid regulations.
The truck standards would be set separately in a process that was much easier to corrupt.
So what'd automakers do?
They started making bigger cars in order to avoid regulations.
This loophole significantly changed the economics of making cars and trucks in America.
It became much more profitable for automakers to make big trucks and SUVs.
It became much more profitable for automakers to make big trucks and SUVs.
Recently GM, Ford, and Chrysler stopped making small cars entirely.
Instead the companies are focusing on selling their more profitable trucks and SUVs.
Instead the companies are focusing on selling their more profitable trucks and SUVs.
All of this has had disastrous effects on both people and the planet.
Here's a chart of the average CO2 emissions per mile of American cars vs European cars.
Here's a chart of the average CO2 emissions per mile of American cars vs European cars.
This pollution isn't just heating up our planet.
A recent study found that more Americans die from car pollution than car accidents.
A recent study found that more Americans die from car pollution than car accidents.
The good news is that we know how to get out of this mess.
Auto lobbyists proved decades ago that itβs possible to design policies that encourage one type of vehicle over another.
Now itβs time to pass policies that encourage people to buy smaller cars with a smaller impact.
Auto lobbyists proved decades ago that itβs possible to design policies that encourage one type of vehicle over another.
Now itβs time to pass policies that encourage people to buy smaller cars with a smaller impact.
More on how all this happened and how we can get out of this mess in the video below:
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