Toyota calls for Congress to pass Hill-Terry CAFE bill
Over on the Toyota Open Road blog, VP Communications Irv Miller has put a post calling on Congress to pass a comprehensive energy bill this session. In particular, Toyota wants the US Congress to pass the Hill-Terry fuel economy standards. That's the same proposal favored by the domestic automakers that would raise the fleet average to somewhere between 32 and 35 mpg by 2022. That's weaker than the bill passed by the Senate last June that would require 35 mpg by 2020. While it's not as tough as the Senate bill, it's likely to be the best compromise that can be achieved and Congress is unlikely to show enough backbone to establish a minimum price for fossil fuels anyway, so they might as well pass this.[Source: Toyota]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jay 1:43PM (9/21/2007)
I think this is a conspiracy perpetrated by Toyota to sell more Priuses and Camrys causing other companies rushing to come up with their own cars that get 35mpg or more causing multiple recalls and distrust in other car manufacturers until Toyota ultimately becomes top dog. And if other companies do manage to get decent cars out there they will be too late because Toyota will be literally miles ahead of them, offering cars that get 180 mpg then they will take over the automotive world for eons to come! And I am right there with them! Viva la MPG! Viva la Prius! Viva la SpongeBob and Viva la Toyota!
(Please don't take this comment seriously I just have way too much of an imagination and too much time on my hands)
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fcross 7:06PM (10/11/2007)
In my observation, the large majority of use of enormous SUVs is for one or two people, looking ridiculous perched in their overbearing and ludicrously oversized vehicles; therefore, I think 35 mpg is an extremely low target, and one which would help but nowhere near enough. We have dug ourselves into one hell of a hole and we need to start climbing out quickly. I realize that many people had their head in the sand sufficiently to buy these revolting monster cars while gas was still artificially cheap (which it still is on a rational basis), and now they're stuck with them, but by 2020 there's no more excuse. If Detroit can't make a decent hybrid or efficient car then they just need to get into another line of business. It's unfortunate for many people in the U.S. but the stakes in the long term are just too high to fool ourselves any longer.
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