Richardson: you won't lose your SUV
Filed under: Biodiesel, Ethanol, Green Culture, Tesla Motors, Legislation and Policy
Salon has an interview with Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson. He is probably the leading candidate on green issues. He talks about a number of things including CAFE, biofuels and electric cars. In contrast to recent statements by John Edwards, Bill says you don't have to give up your SUV. He says "what I'm asking for is not sacrifice, like Americans' wearing sweaters and turning the heat down. What I'm asking for is being more energy-efficient with appliances, with vehicles, with mass transit. ... You can have an SUV with a fuel-efficient engine. We do have the technology to achieve this."When asked if Detroit could reach his proposed 50 MPG CAFE by 2020, he says "Detroit will benefit from this. We've got the technology. They need a little gentle prodding and they need incentives, but Detroit has always stepped up with ingenuity. They must realize that to keep jobs in America, to be part of this globalized world, they gotta compete. I'm not at all averse to giving Detroit tax incentives for these vehicles or having the government jointly invest in R&D with them, rather than clubbing them over the head. "
Bill wants to support ethanol by helping gas stations convert at least one pump to ethanol and thinks the government should buy more flex fuel vehicles. He also believes "in cooperative ventures with other countries." He would " expand our ties to Latin America with more collaboration in renewable energy and technology." Bill walks the talk in New Mexico. He's "very proud to get Tesla Motors to move here (New Mexico) from California." Also, the governor's fleet includes Ford Escape hybrid and Chevy Tahoe flex fuel.
[Source: Salon]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-03-2007 @ 1:38PM
Mike Z said...
a 50 MPG SUV. I think that's beyond the theoretical efficiency of a ICE engine. Maybe 35-38 with light weight body parts, and a diesel/hybrid drive.
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9-03-2007 @ 2:11PM
Bill said...
Isn't the Escape hybrid rated at 36 in the city?
I'd think a diesel hybrd version could top that easily.
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9-03-2007 @ 3:24PM
Mike Z said...
For a light SUV (Like Escape, Vue) I think 45 with a diesel is doable. But for larger SUVs, Yukon, etc I think 35-38 is the limit.
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9-03-2007 @ 4:48PM
rgseidl said...
@Mike Z -
note he didn't specifically say that he wants Detroit to come up with 50 MPG SUVs. Like any politician, he just wants voters to believe they can have their cake and eat it, too. That magical "someone else" will be happy to make do with less so you don't have to. Same old same old.
Btw: Opel Antara (cp. Saturn Vue) 2.0L CDTI (110kW/148bhp) with 5-speed AT comes in at 8.6L/100km (27.4MPG *diesel*) in the NEDC, i.e. new EPA estimate would be worse. At ~4250lbs curb weight, it is quite the porker.
If you want a vehicle that gets 45MPG, you don't buy an SUV or even a CUV. You settle for a mid-size sedan. Now, where is that "someone else" when you need him?
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9-03-2007 @ 5:34PM
jnaggs said...
bill richardson is an assclown.
he reminds me of the politician who wants to appear tough on crime so he votes for tougher minimum sentences. he is for cars that get better milage, as if that is some kind of bold statement that shows real leadership. no actual plan to achive that or actually reduce fuel consumption.
at least edwards "plan" would save some fuel
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9-04-2007 @ 12:51AM
Domenick said...
I like Bill. I think he will be Secretary of state in Hillary's (shudder) cabinet.
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9-04-2007 @ 2:10AM
motorman said...
typical lib nothing about get the oil we need from our own country.even if we get higher CAFE we still need the oil and it is still going to come from the arabs
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9-15-2007 @ 5:55PM
Caleb Fisher said...
The United States is the third largest producer of crude oil. About fifty percent of all oil used in the USA is imported. If the United States uses half the about of oil it currently uses, there would be no reason for imports from "arabs". The current CAFE standard is 25 MPG (I think, for now at least), so a change to 50 MPG would do just that, half the oil consumption in half by automobiles for all the new automobiles produced (there will still be old ineffcient vehicles around if this happens).
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9-16-2007 @ 10:16AM
justwokeup said...
"typical lib nothing about get the oil we need from our own country"
wow, you really don't remember your history at all? If we had enacted President Jimmy Carter's recommendations we'd be oil independent today. Who did all they could to kill every one of those changes? Republicans. Conservatives. Big business. Ronald Reagan (who demolished the solar panels that Carter had installed on the white house). Typical right-wingers.
Do you honestly think that politicians who make (or made) their fortunes in the oil industry are going to do anything to truly reduce our dependence on oil??? They've been spinning the media around hydrogen and biofuels and away from the real solution of electric cars.
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