As I understand it (admitedly from memory, I could be off on the figures), some 40% of our current auto fleet is SUVs and light trucks - which are held to a much lighter efficiency standard than autos... despite their lack of any relevant functional difference.
Their percentage of CURRENT SALES is even higher than that.
Furthermore, heavy trucks don't face these standards at all.
So, yes, we could easily save this much oil by applying standards more uniformly. (Furthermore, the diesel heavy trucks amount to a much more serious health threat than the cars/light trucks/SUVs because of their particulate emissions. Those particulates are of exactly the proper size to lodge in the lungs smallest air sacs. According to a recent US Academy of Sciences study, and a corresponding one out of Europe, this likely accounts for an average reduction of life in the population of about one year. There is obviously also a COST that can be affixed to this reduction in life span... and associated medical costs.... But, as they say, you lose that year at the end of your life, and those are the 'lousey years' anyway :-)
As to "the rest of <my> arguments are full of holes.", since you didn't bother to think of any actual EXAMPLES of what's wrong with my arguments, or list any counter arguments at all... I think I'll stick to my own views for now.
Of course, I'm willing to change ANY VIEW I HAVE if someone just comes up with a more persuasive argument, better reasoning, or corrects any facts I may have based my views on, which turn out to be in error.
I'm a realist, after all. |
