Gas Taxes Should Go Up To Boost Green-Car Sales

[Capt Worley PE]

The CEO of General Motors, Dan Akerson, told a Detroit newspaper that the Federal tax on gasoline should be raised by 50 cents or $1 a gallon to encourage consumers to buy more fuel efficient vehicles..
In an interview last week with the Detroit News, Akerson said a higher gas tax should be part of a comprehensive energy policy set by the U.S. government--a notable omission thus far from the policies issued by the Obama Administration.

A higher gas tax makes more sense, Akerson argued, than proposals to increase corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) regulations to as much as 62 miles per gallon by 2025.

More at: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/106115...-gm-ceo-akerson

So, we bailed out GM and in return, their CEO wants his consumers to pay more taxes because he doesnn't want to pay the development costs necessary to meet the CAFE standards.

 

[snickerd3]

some people need large cars to hold their big family. A sedan doesn't work for everyone.

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

Some people need large cars for their jobs. You think some independent home improvement contractor is gonna roll around in a Mini with all his tools and eqpt.

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

GMC and Chevy both have hybrid Tahoe/Yukon's...

 

[Master slacker]

Hybrid... :jerkit:

What a joke of a technology. Complete waste if you ask me.

 

[CbusPaul]

Apparently market forces and the free market are completely dead now.

 

[wilheldp_PE]

Apparently market forces and the free market are completely dead now.

You are free to purchase what the government deems necessary for your survival (see: Obamacare).

 

[cableguy]

GMC and Chevy both have hybrid Tahoe/Yukon's...

Yeah, for $55k+ you get a 6000 lb SUV that gets 21 mpg instead of 16. Great, just great. Sorry, maybe it's just me, but that's too much for a GM truck. There's a reason I'll never buy a 'new' car for myself again. They're just flat out too expensive. The depreciation makes no sense.

They should be making diesel SUVs, not hybrid. Does GM make a diesel Tahoe / Yukon?

 

[Master slacker]

No.

Diesel is only available in medium-duty trucks and European cars. Diesel is too dirty for the USA .

 

[Flyer_PE]

The last time I ran the numbers, when you consider the price differential between the gas and diesel powered pickups, it's still cheaper to go with gas.

 

[Master slacker]

Longevity? Reliability? Both lean to the diesel.

 

[willsee]

The last time I ran the numbers, when you consider the price differential between the gas and diesel powered pickups, it's still cheaper to go with gas.

Even when pulling loads?

 

[Master slacker]

Given that diesel price is ~10% higher than that of gasoline, I will go ahead and state that diesel mileage is >10% than that of a comparable gasoline powered engine. That cost also tips to the diesel.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

GMC and Chevy both have hybrid Tahoe/Yukon's...

Yeah, for $55k+ you get a 6000 lb SUV that gets 21 mpg instead of 16. Great, just great. Sorry, maybe it's just me, but that's too much for a GM truck. There's a reason I'll never buy a 'new' car for myself again. They're just flat out too expensive. The depreciation makes no sense.

They should be making diesel SUVs, not hybrid. Does GM make a diesel Tahoe / Yukon?

You're thinking about it the wrong way. That's an increase of around 30%. Now think of all the SUVs on the road. How much less gas would we as a country consume if they all got 30% better mileage?

That being said, I wouldn't pay 55K for one, either, but I'm a cheap bastage that likes used American cars because they are so cheap.

 

[Flyer_PE]

Given that diesel price is ~10% higher than that of gasoline, I will go ahead and state that diesel mileage is >10% than that of a comparable gasoline powered engine. That cost also tips to the diesel.

I just did the calculation for my specific application. Given my uses for the truck, I would have to burn a hell of a lot of diesel fuel before I made up the price difference between the two. The break-even point doesn't happen for me until about year 10 of ownership. If I was using the truck differently, the equation changes.

 

[CbusPaul]

Apparently market forces and the free market are completely dead now.

You are free to purchase what the government deems necessary for your survival (see: Obamacare).

You are forced to purchase what the government deems necessary for your survival (Obamacare).

 

[Flyer_PE]

You're thinking about it the wrong way. That's an increase of around 30%. Now think of all the SUVs on the road. How much less gas would we as a country consume if they all got 30% better mileage?

I think history indicates that we wouldn't consume less gas, we would just drive more miles.

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

Apparently market forces and the free market are completely dead now.

You are free to purchase what the government deems necessary for your survival (see: Obamacare).

You are forced to purchase what the government deems necessary for your survival (Obamacare).

Nice to see the tinfoil hat folks make an appearance.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

You're thinking about it the wrong way. That's an increase of around 30%. Now think of all the SUVs on the road. How much less gas would we as a country consume if they all got 30% better mileage?

I think history indicates that we wouldn't consume less gas, we would just drive more miles.

Yeah, but that trend is mainly population increases leading to further suburbs leading to further commutes, IMO. IIRC, the average yearly mileage has doubled in 50 years...phenomenal when you consider how prevalent those 'Sunday drives' used to be before the OPEC embargo of 73.

 

[snickerd3]

hybrids may increase gas milage, but then you have to handle the batteries as hazardous waste when they need replacing....i think 7-10 yrs was the last I heard on the time. Yeah they can recycles some of it but there is still the end game waste to now deal with.