Harpers April Index

April 21, 2001 11:03 AM

Harpers April Index Some interesting stats here, especially on energy-related items.
posted by Postroad (11 comments total)

I like this one:

Gallons by which daily U.S. oil consumption would drop if SUVs’ average fuel efficiency increased by 3 mpg : 49,000,000


Gallons per day that the proposed drilling of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is projected to yield : 42,000,000
posted by owen at 12:57 PM on April 21, 2001

Odds George W. Bush would retain the support of his big-money oil buddies for the 2004 election if he were to make SUV manufacturers increase fuel efficiency by 3 mpg, and back off plans to rape the Alaskan wilderness: 1,000,000 to 1
posted by jpoulos at 6:06 PM on April 21, 2001

I'd like to see a number for "Cost of increasing the average fuel efficiency of SUVs by 3 mpg."
posted by mw at 3:40 AM on April 22, 2001

Here's a slightly different take on SUVs and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
posted by mw at 4:22 AM on April 22, 2001

A good first step re: SUVs, stop treating them like trucks and treat them like cars. It would mean they'd have to increase their fuel efficiency by about 7mpg.
posted by Cuppatea at 4:49 AM on April 22, 2001

By simply reclassifying SUVs and minivans from trucks to cars for fuel efficiency purposes, Schumer said Americans could save 120 million barrels of oil each year.

I'm sure the auto manufacturers will be glad to hear it's that simple.
posted by mw at 4:53 AM on April 22, 2001

Some manufacturers manage to eke out a few extra mpg. The top SUV in this survey gets 31mpg (city), 37mpg(Hwy). Unfortunately it drops to 21mpg and 30mpg respectively, and that's the top 10!
posted by Cuppatea at 5:17 AM on April 22, 2001

MW: The link provided blames all our woes upon the environmentalists. However, there is no word whatsoever about the deregulation of energy industry in California, which, from all I have read, bears a great responsibility for California's woes. Without Alaska's oil, don't we get a few barrels of oil from OPEC?
posted by Postroad at 6:54 AM on April 22, 2001

I'd like to see a number for "Cost of increasing the average fuel efficiency of SUVs by 3 mpg."

I bet it's a **lot** less than "Annual profit on SUVs made by auto industry," and likely also a lot less than "How much more SUV buyers would be willing to pay for the same vehicle."
posted by daveadams at 10:44 AM on April 22, 2001

Postroad: OK, here's something else to read, then.
posted by mw at 11:14 AM on April 22, 2001

I'd like to see a number for "Cost of increasing the average fuel efficiency of SUVs by 3 mpg."

The auto manufacturers are making HUGE profits on SUVs. Additional costs to increase fuel efficiency would impact their profit margin relatively little.
posted by jpoulos at 2:06 PM on April 22, 2001