Copyright 1999 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Inc.
St.
Louis Post-Dispatch
November 6, 1999, Saturday, FIVE STAR LIFT
EDITION
SECTION: EDITORIAL, Pg. 3
LENGTH: 581 words
HEADLINE:
NEW FUEL ECONOMY RULES WOULD HURT SUV BUYERS
BYLINE:
Daniel P. Mehan
BODY:
THE Oct. 1 editorial,
"SUVs vs. lungs," was not only factually inaccurate but also showed a lack of
understanding of today's vehicle market.
The headline indicated that the
issue before Congress concerned pollution from sport-utility vehicles. Wrong.
The subject was federal fuel economy, specifically the corporate average
fuel economy (CAFE) standards relating to pickups,
minivans, vans and SUVs -- not air emissions.
There's no conflict
between light-truck models and clean air. Modern light trucks are clean-running,
with emissions meeting strict federal standards. Automakers have reduced their
emissions even more under the voluntary NLEV (national low-emission vehicle)
program, and further reductions are planned.
New pickups, SUVs, vans and
minivans are invariably cleaner than the cars and trucks they replace. Vehicle
turnover is helping to improve air quality in St. Louis and elsewhere. But,
again, that has nothing to do with gas mileage or CAFE.
The editorial
suggested that higher truck CAFE rules would save consumers money. The fact is,
forcing higher average miles-per-gallon levels would require a combination of
truck downsizing, limits on availability of certain models and features and the
addition of expensive materials and technologies. Ultimately, they would cost
money, not save it.
The National Academy of Sciences has found that
large-truck fuel economy modifications would raise prices as much as $ 2,750 per
vehicle -- far more than any saving at the gas pump. The academy found that
modifications would hurt vehicle sales, employment and the competitiveness of
the U.S. auto industry. The academy report concludes, "The CAFE approach to
achieving automotive fuel economy has defects that are sufficiently grievous to
warrant careful reconsideration of the approach."
While plenty of
high-mileage cars and trucks are on the market, sales data show those vehicles
have limited appeal. Most purchasers are looking for greater size, safety,
comfort, performance, and hauling and towing capability. And they've
demonstrated their willingness to pay extra for those features, even if it means
lower gas mileage.
So when one senator claims that consumers want to pay
more for higher fuel economy, that's little more than wishful thinking.
The editorial dismissed SUVs as unnecessary vehicles used only by
suburbanites. It ignored other vehicles in that class -- for example, pickup
trucks and vans -- that outsell SUVs more than two to one. Americans rely on
these vehicles for necessary purposes: farming and construction; towing boats,
RVs and campers; commuting; transporting the physically disabled; maneuvering in
rough terrain and harsh weather; and providing police, emergency, delivery and
repair services. All of these users stand to lose if the government imposes new
CAFE rules.
Perhaps the single most important consideration is vehicle
safety. Vehicle size and weight are among the most significant of all safety
factors. Setting higher CAFE rules in the '70s for cars resulted in dramatic
downsizing and cost thousands of lives. Increased standards would only increase
safety risks.
Given the extreme adverse effects of higher CAFE rules for
light trucks, the choice is clear. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce is pleased
that Congress agreed to extend the current CAFE freeze. We commend Sens. John
Ashcroft, Christopher Bond and Peter Fitzgerald for their votes to protect
vehicle choice and highway safety.
LOAD-DATE: November 6, 1999 
