Good point about increasing the cost versus implementing the mandates (and the CAFE numbers will us so much voodoo math they wouldn’t be credible anyway). European and Asian drivers probably use less fuel largely because it costs far more, not because their governments make any better regulations than ours does.

http://web.mit.edu/sloan-auto-lab/research/beforeh2/files/Zoepf_MS_Thesis.pdf

Basically, it finds that for cars (excluding light trucks) there was about 200 lbs of weight increase attributable to safety and emissions equipment between 1980 and 2010. Over the same period, there was about 260 lbs of weight increase attributable to comfort & convenience features.

These safety devices are important in a small vehicle when getting clobbered by a 6000 lbs SUV. Simple physics. So while as a libertarian I am usually against government mandates I do appreciate some of the resultant safety devices (air bags. side impact bars, etc) Recent proposed mandates are just going to add to the cost and weight (e.g.- blackboxes)

The death rate per mile driven has fallen to an all time low. A ten mph accident in 1970 could often result in death while now it will more likely result in bruises. I was hit head on by a Caprice classic going 50 mph in my Saturn SL2. My brother was hit head-on by a Ford E350 sliding on its side at 70 mph in a Saturn SL1. My wife, my brother, and I walked away with minor injuries (both cars were totalled). If not for the airbags our injuries would have been severe and I have little doubt my brother would be dead.

A Prius weighs about 2900 and a Camry hybrid weighs about 3600.

Thus vehicles over 3600 lbs with horsepower over 200, simply waste gas.

We do not need regulation, we need education based on sound science, not agenda driven briefs aimed at political goals.

I believe Government mandates lock in old design and make innovation difficult. Remember the first air bags actually injured small front seat passengers, and when it was discovered that the bag inflation rate was a one speed fits all design set for high speed crashes when most were at lower speeds? We could not make the design change but had to get the government to modify its regulation? And this one example is just the tip of the iceberg.

Not to mention the change in the lending rules during the Clinton era which gave birth to the housing bubble. Over-regulation even with best intentions leads to more poverty and corruption, not less.

From my understanding of the weight issue is most is derived from safety hardware include side impact beams, air bags (the Fit has 8 air bags) and other reinforcements. I’ll keep my safety thank you.

Hybrids lead to even more weight gain from the batteries, extra electric motor and additional hardware required to make it all work.

In the 1970″ we created the Energy Department to take actions to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. But with all those regulations, what has been the result, we are more depend now, and our dependence is growing.

We have tried a government run economy, see history of Soviet Union, and found a too centralized control leads to poverty and corruption.

We need better batteries, that is for sure, but the New Fusion Plug-in, due in about 12 months, plus the Prius PHV due next month, should provide an ability to reduce gasoline consumption without harming the economy. Take a drive in a new Camry Hybrid or a Kia. These are great cars that get that 10 MPG better than the currant fleet average of 27.

Rather than mandating high fuel costs, how about lowering fuel costs by providing alternatives. Duh