Look at gasoline mileage for the nation's fleet. If SUVs
and other passenger vehicle 'exceptions' are added, then many
automakers would be far below the once 24 MPG standards. SUVs
do low gas mileage because they are exempt from national
standards.

The fleet MPG is decreasing. Even worse, some automakers
have optimized vehicles to make their EPA test mileages look
better than real world numbers. The Corvette was a most
glaring example. Its computer program was optimized so that
the transmission would skip second gear during EPA mileage
tests - to optimize EPA mileage numbers.

With passenger vehicles called SUVs now getting only 12 MPG,
you tell me how the efficiency numbers are getting better.
Even in 1968, a 350 V-8 did 17 MPG.

Meanwhile, do the numbers. Gasoline prices are only high
where people failed to first learn numbers. Somehow they just
know - numbers be damned. When gasoline prices hit $1.65 per
gallon, then the emotional complained about high gas prices.
Again, do the numbers. Gas at $1.65 has historically been
cheap gas. No wonder only the import manufacturers develop
energy efficient technologies. No wonder the head of GM is a
finance guy rather than an innovator. No wonder GM management
would hype mythical solutions (ie hydrogen fuel) rather then
do serious engineering. Gasoline is still so cheap - when one
bothers to first do the numbers before 'feeling' a conclusion.
And gasoline prices will go even higher as innovation remains
stifled.

I 'feel' Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. That
proves he had WMDs? Same types also 'feel' gas prices are
high. Numbers be damned. Emotion is proof enough.

Duane Bozarth wrote:
w_tom wrote:
... But then the efficiency of vehicles keeps decreasing. ...

Where is the documenation (numbers) for this assertion?