CAFE stds on the chopping block

rhagfo wrote:

John & Angela wrote:

wilber1 wrote:
US automakers are global players and the rest of the world isn't going to stop moving forward because of something a US president signs. They will continue to develop these vehicles or become uncompetitive in wold markets.

I tend to agree. Right now 1 out of every 2 people walking into a showroom in Norway are going into buy a BEV or PHEV. Since the new year 51 percent of all registrations have been electric vehicles. Although Norway is on the cutting edge of this wave, EV sales are doubling every year in most developed countries in the world. People who have driven electric vehicles like the experience and are buying them. Government incentives have helped to give them a boost but prices are almost competitive with ice vehicles. In 5 years they will be cheaper. In 10 years they will be much cheaper than ice vehicles and of course maintenance is a fraction of the cost.

Americans should be able to buy whatever they want. Americans companies should be able to build whatever they want. However, if they want to be able to sell anything to any first world nation in ten years they might want to try and keep up. They will find markets in developing countries or third world countries that don't have 1st world environmental standards but the market will get smaller for ice vehicles. Trucks and SUV's too but it will take longer. Putting trade barriers up to foreign EV's coming in will help for awhile and assuming TESLA is not run out of the US there will be an excellent domestic source of EV's but Americans will want variety and that will come from foreign manufacturers.

Both of our vehicles are electric. Contrary to what every one seems to think we (EV drivers) are not all liberals nor are we environmental nuts. However, like many, we find the driving experience superior to any ICE vehicle. Maintenance is low, fuel is cheap, they are fast, nimble, very stable (low centre of gravity) dead quiet, very reliable and convenient. They are not for everyone's needs yet and pickups and SUV's have their place in North American markets and society. But in my opinion, if North American manufacturing stops R and D in the EV market simply because they don't have to because of the lack if government smog regulations they would be making a mistake.

All just my humble opinion.

John

Maybe due to fuel prices, Norway is about $6.72 a gallon!! VAT tax and road taxes.

I was in Ireland in December and paid eruo 1.20 per liter. that was about US $4.88 a gallon, during that trip the Dollar was about euro .95, one of the best rates inn years.

Yep. Could be. And in fifteen years I think the price of fuel in North America will still be cheaper than Europe so it will probably be still harder to justify the purchasing of an Electric vehicle in North America from the fuel cost point of view. But an Electric vehicle has 18 moving parts compared to the more than 2000 in an ICE vehicle. Those advantages will play out in the longer term. Again, people should be able to buy what they want. But it will be interesting to see if people want to buy a complicated gas powered car that needs regular oil changes and regular gas fill ups when there is much simpler electric vehicle that needs the washer fluid filled once a year available at the same or cheaper cost. Time will tell.

After two years I'm getting close to needing a new jug of washer fluid for our electric vehicles so here comes another bill for 1.89.

Obviously EV's are not a replacement for today's pickups...but the technology will be there in ten years to do exactly that. I suppose If North American manufacturers don't develop it they can always buy it from overseas companies.