The True Price of Petrol
Comments: 7
I’m seeing a disturbing increase in the number of SUVs driven in Tokyo. The streets here are generally extremely narrow so the sheer size of the vehicles is an imposition, let alone what they do to the environment in terms of pollution.
I’ve been wondering whether it might not be a good idea to set the price of petrol using a pro rata system. In other words, the greater the cleanliness and fuel economy of your vehicle, the less you pay for gas. If your self-esteem problems compel you to drive a Suburban or an Explorer, for example, then you could expect to pay 2 or 3 times the average price. New cars would be sold with a rating that sets the initial price, and this rating could be adjusted each time the car is re-licensed. Cars could be rated at any time upon modification, say if you reconditioned the engine or installed a catalytic converter or whatever.
This way, the true, ongoing cost of our vehicle purchasing decisions would be made more real to us.
•••
Posted to General Rants • 2002.06.28 (Fri) • 11:28
Comments
Posted by Scott 2002.06.28, 13:21
very clever thought and one i’d vote for.
Posted by jh 2002.06.29, 00:22
I imagine my modest proposal would go down like a fish milkshake, but I really can’t think of any serious, constitutional objections to it (the usual, I-am-not-a-lawyer caveat applies).
Although I haven’t owned an internal combustion engine of any description for more than 10 years (you don’t need a car in Tokyo), I love cars and love driving so I’m not suggesting this as some Luddite who wants to get rid of the things.
The simple fact is that we need to start paying for our decisions. Considering that this whole ‘war on terrorism’ thing is really about oil (as was the recent Venezuelan coup), this seems like a good place to start.
Posted by Admiralisation 2002.06.29, 03:47
I live in the US and feel there are far too many SUVs. The first wave were not so bad, ala Ford Explorer and Jeep Cherokee. But then, the Cherokee becaome “grand” and Ford upsized (like a Biggie-fry at Wendy’s) their entry to the Navigator. Car companies now can’t help but sell them, since demand is so high.
The real question is: why do they exist? One, families insist in taking their kids places, where in the past, they could live peacefully at home. People walked to the store, they didn’t drive. Two, the overly American desire to drive a bus. We bus our kids to school, putting all the wordly power of that $60,000 yellow machine in one man or woman’s hands… she controlled the radio, the cooling, the heat, and that neat-o door. Now we all want to have that power. My idea, anyhow. What will be next? Fines if you don’t have a full truck, I mean, car load? I say, why not.
Posted by Mary Beth 2002.07.02, 10:33
I couldn’t agree more. Not only are the gas requirements of these things unbelievable, but I’m tired of not being able to see where I’m going or to pull out of parking spots. Most of the people I know with SUV never use or shouldn’t use the four wheel drive ability. They use “snow” as an excuse for driving a bus. Meanwhile I would love to buy a hybrid car from more than the few choices currently available. Yes I’d get a small tax break. yes I’d reap the bennies of good mileage. I still would be unable to see over and around all those gas guzzlers.
Posted by jh 2002.07.02, 18:23
“Like a Biggie-fry at Wendy’s” pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it: gimme more, bigger, now!
The really curious thing for me is that at a time when ecological concerns have a fairly large presence in public consciousness (OK, the 80s were perhaps something of a lost decade), these cars - trucks actually, as has been pointed out - are being marketed and bought at a furious rate.
As for hybrids, definitely the way to go. I see quite a few of the Toyota models on the roads here (The Prius) which is great. People are taking them seriously and they seem like excellent city cars. Honda also makes one which is not just a remarkably economical car, it’s sexy as hell; absolutely stunning design.
When I move back to Australia, I’m going to have buy a car (no choice; you can’t really get by without one there, public transportation being what it is - or isn’t, more accurately). I’m torn between something like an old Type III Volkswagen (with a reconditioned engine, of course) or a new hybrid. Hopefully I can swing the latter because the savings in operating costs just seem too good to pass up.
Posted by RR 2005.11.09, 11:54
Well the explosion of these dinosaurs on the roads of rich countries helped push up the world price of gas by accellerating demand ahead of supply - takes years to build refineries etc. Along with the exponential increase in the number of cars in developing countries - especially China and India - and well the result has been high oil prices.
Now natural selection is overtaking these dinosaurs of the road - those car companies that built their “business model” in the 80s and 90s around, selfish, anti-social SUVs (GM, Ford) (easier than providing quality) forgot the lessons of the 70s oil shocks, and are now (probably) on their way to extinction. -just like the flesh and blood dinosaurs. As Santanya said: “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” He should have added: “And Die!”
(Wonder how much the price of a second hand SUV had dropped in the last year?)
Posted by air purifiers 2007.02.05, 11:07
I think it’s great thought, and we should support of it.
Post a comment:
Send This Story to an Enemy
• • •
