In deep denial

The Bush administration’s new rules for fuel-economy standards display the sort of evasion of long-term energy reality that is seen in the public at large — which, we suppose, is the reason for the insignificance of the program. Wouldn’t want to inconvenience anyone! But then, most politicians complain about high gasoline prices yet assiduously avoid any call for Americans to flee fantasyland. Americans think, or at least strongly hope, that they’ll be able to live forever in the world of cheap, if heavily polluting, sources of energy.

For one thing, the Bush plan would not raise the current, too low 27.5 miles-per-gallon standard for passenger cars. That’s bad.

As is the plan’s complete exclusion from fuel-economy standards of large sport-utility vehicles and trucks weighing more than 8,500 pounds (such as the Hummer GH2 and the Ford Excursion). The reason: Under America’s crazy fuel-efficiency rules, these vehicles — used mostly by affluent individuals for personal travel — are officially considered commercial vehicles.

Detroit has thus won a battle, if not the war. The war will be won by those companies that will focus on fuel-efficient vehicles. Apparently, those companies won’t be American.

Providence Journal