Detroit Free Press: Hybrid Roundup
#1
01-26-2006, 09:27 PM
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,070
Detroit Free Press: Hybrid Roundup
Higher gasoline tax touted at auto show
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...SS01/601260480
Hybrid busses going into service.
FEH commercial during the Superbowl!
Honda in deal with Mexico for hybrid use
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../1014/BUSINESS
Who would've guessed that Mexico might lead North America into using hybrids for fleetwide Government use?
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...SS01/601260480
Hybrid busses going into service.
FEH commercial during the Superbowl!
Honda in deal with Mexico for hybrid use
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../1014/BUSINESS
Who would've guessed that Mexico might lead North America into using hybrids for fleetwide Government use?
#2
01-27-2006, 11:14 AM
Pretty Darn Active Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Deep in the heart of Florida
Posts: 351
Re: Detroit Free Press: Hybrid Roundup
Originally Posted by (from the article)
Since October, AutoNation Chairman and CEO Mike Jackson has called for a gas tax increase of as much as $1 per gallon -- offset with credits for low-income drivers -- to push American car buyers toward more fuel-efficient vehicles.
In a panel on energy issues at the Washington Auto Show, Jackson said, while he is concerned about a consumer backlash, company research found that 60% of buyers would be willing to pay those taxes if they were a part of an energy independence policy.
Jackson said such taxes are necessary because market forces won't demand higher fuel economy otherwise. Despite record fuel prices last summer, he said, fuel economy ranks just above cup holders in terms of consumer demands for new vehicles.
In a panel on energy issues at the Washington Auto Show, Jackson said, while he is concerned about a consumer backlash, company research found that 60% of buyers would be willing to pay those taxes if they were a part of an energy independence policy.
Jackson said such taxes are necessary because market forces won't demand higher fuel economy otherwise. Despite record fuel prices last summer, he said, fuel economy ranks just above cup holders in terms of consumer demands for new vehicles.
(Answer: market forces!) Apparently he was hibernating during the post-Katrina price spike, when the resale value of some SUVs went all the way to zero as their owners tried to dump them for hybrids and other high-FE vehicles. Those "non-existent" market forces strike again!Of course, since Mr. Jackson likely has his own chauffeured limousine to take him everywhere at company expense, the tax hike he advocates wouldn't affect him at all.
Nor would I trust that "company research." Any poll or survey can easily be rigged by carefully choosing the respondents, asking loaded questions, etc. Case in point: In 1995 a nearby school board wanted to float a nine-figure bond issue (with massive tax hike to pay for it). About 10 days before the election, the county's liberal fishwrap touted its poll showing solid support for the measure. The actual vote was 3-to-1 against, ranking the paper's poll story right up there with "Dewey Defeats Truman."
#3
01-27-2006, 12:03 PM
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,070
Re: Detroit Free Press: Hybrid Roundup
Yeah, that's pretty much what I thought too as I read it. Artificial prices kept gas prices low. Gas is in short supply, high demand. Gas prices should go up naturally, SUV demand should decrease naturally, and Hybrid demand should rise naturally. And that's exactly what happened when gas was $3 a gallon.
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