Auto Emission Changes

Auto emissions deal: behind the scenes - LA Times.

Interesting the politics behind the deal. On the added cost, may be. But if it's added to all cars that may decrease the cost due to increase the efficiency. The more you make, the less the cost. That has been the problem with the SUV hybrids, they have not got the economy of scale. There is also a lot of new technology that looks like it will make this easier than it would first seem.

What I find exciting is the impact on fuel efficiency this will have, I realize this is a byproduct of the focus on green house gases...

SUV Plant Closes

It’s the End of the Line for S.U.V.’s from the NY Times. Story about GM closing one of their last SUV plants, now the Big 3 each only have one left. I am curious if the price of gas stays low, will people start buying SUV's in the huge amounts they were before? Another story mentioned it was almost like people needed permission to buy things. It's a strange economy. My opinion is SUV's are fine, as long as they are hybrids with meaningful mileage - so up the requirements for CAFE! I still don't understand why nobody in the US has come out with a hybrid Minivan. Toyota has had one in Japan for years. Of course it's not the whale of a minivan they sell here.