A goodly chunk of the people reading the USA Today article have no idea what an Edsel is. Regardless, take a guess where this piece goes
Biden’s new electric car goals are an Edsel masquerading as a Tesla.
The United States needs to urgently slash global warming pollution with strictly enforced standards that phase out sales of new gasoline-engine cars and trucks by 2030 and dramatically boost fuel efficiency until then. But the emissions cuts in the auto plan President Biden issued Thursday are too timid – and rely too heavily on automakers’ voluntary commitments to produce electric vehicles. They won’t cut it. (snip)
The plan ballyhoos electric vehicles, touting a hoped-for new-vehicle fleet that could be up to 50% EVs in 2030. But automakers gave Biden no commitment that they would reach even that inadequate target. Voluntary pledges from auto companies make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight look like a legally binding contract. Because automakers have demonstrated they can’t be trusted (See: Volkswagen diesel-gate), compliance with every element of the package must be written in stone. (snip through a lot of complaining about those mean auto makers producing vehicles that people actually want to buy)
Automakers have long had the technology needed to achieve real improvements: electric motors; safe, high-strength lightweight steel and aluminum; continuously variable transmissions, and aerodynamic designs, for example. With them, consumers would save more at the pump than the improvements would cost.
But rather than make full use of the gas- and dollar-saving improvements, carmakers pumped $14 billion yearly into TV and web ads and other marketing to ramp up production of gas-guzzling SUVs and pickups. For years they’ve saddled customers –who often haul little more than a cappuccino from Starbucks – with truck markups of as much as $35,000.
You mean the vehicles that people want to buy? Huh. BTW, the vast majority of 4 cylinder vehicles have CVTs. That 2.0 Turbo meant to replicate a 6 cylinder? It’s a 4 cylinder with a CVT. Better fuel economy, less change of hearing “you need a new transmission.” Better on hills. More consistent power. Most use high strength body materials for the unibodies. No frames. And aerodynamic designs. Are climate cultists Dan Becker and James Gerstenzang been living under rocks for the last 15 years?
To fend off the worst climate catastrophes, Biden has set a goal of near-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Because some vehicles remain on the road at least 20 years, we can’t reach that crucial target unless we phase out sales of new gas-powered cars and light trucks by the end of this decade.
What’s this “we” stuff? What if the majority of us don’t? How about you cultists stop using them?
Biden’s auto standard is an Edsel masquerading as a Tesla. Before it becomes final later this year, he must strengthen it. Global warming is burning forests, roasting the West and worsening storms. Now is not the time to propose clunker rules for today and promise strong ones for tomorrow. The stakes are too high to aim low.
They want Biden to act as a dictator in forcing you, the Free Citizens of the USA, to comply. Surprise?
