> We could save a tremendous amount of energy by quitting the race-to-the-top phenomena of escalating car size due to the (largely false) perception of safety.
Actually, we can't because:
(1) Personal transportation isn't that big a fraction of total energy use.
(2) Cars are getting smaller and have been for some time.
The most useful vehicle for fuel savings purposes costs less than $2,000 and gets around 50mpg. Higher mileage doesn't help much and higher price is a killer.
Do the arithmetic using $4/gallon gasoline and a "main car" that gets 20-25mpg. And no, you don't get to replace the main car. Folks have it because they need what it does "often enough" and renting doesn't work.
Actually, we can't because: (1) Personal transportation isn't that big a fraction of total energy use. (2) Cars are getting smaller and have been for some time.
The most useful vehicle for fuel savings purposes costs less than $2,000 and gets around 50mpg. Higher mileage doesn't help much and higher price is a killer.
Do the arithmetic using $4/gallon gasoline and a "main car" that gets 20-25mpg. And no, you don't get to replace the main car. Folks have it because they need what it does "often enough" and renting doesn't work.