Fleet Standard Fail
One of the things Obama’s auto task force has said it will do is hammer the Big 2.5 on their fuel efficiency. Improve efficiency, they seem to be telling Detroit, and your economic woes will disappear.
Which is why this post is so interesting (h/t Consumerist). It argues that the fleet fuel efficiency standard for Obama’s auto task force members fails to meet CAFE standards–and that’s with the vast majority of the car owners in the group driving foreign makes. Here’s the gas mileage the task force members are getting:
- Timothy Geithner owns a 2008 Acura TSX (23 MPG)
- Larry Summers owns a 1995 Mazda Protege (26 MPG)
- Peter Orszag owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey and a 2004 Volvo S60 (21 MPG)
- Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator, owns a 2008 Toyota Prius and a Honda Odyssey minivan (33 MPG)
- Austan Goolsbee, chief economist for the White House Economic Recovery Advisory Board, owns a 2004 Toyota Highlander (22 MPG)
- Joan DeBoer, the chief of staff to LaHood, drives a 2008 Lexus RX 350 (20 MPG)
- Heather Zichal, deputy director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change, owns a Volvo C30 (23 MPG)
- Gene Sperling, counsel to the Treasury Secretary, owns a 2003 Lincoln LS (21 MPG)
- Lisa Heinzerlingra, senior climate policy counsel to the head of the EPA, owns a 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback station wagon (24 MPG)
- Dan Utech, senior adviser to the Energy Secretary, owns a 2003 Mini Cooper S two-door hatchback (25 MPG)
- Rick Wade, a senior adviser at the Commerce Department, owns a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier (23 MPG)
- Jared Bernstein, Vice President Joe Biden’s chief economist, owns a 2005 Honda Odyssey (20 MPG)
- Ray LaHood had no vehicle information.
- Christine Romer, head of the Council of Economic Advisers, had no vehicle information.
- Diana Farrell, the deputy National Economic Council director, doesn’t own a vehicle.
- Carol Browner, the White House climate czar, doesn’t own an automobile.
- Steven Chu, Energy Secretary, doesn’t own a car.
- Edward B. Montgomery, senior adviser to the Labor Department, owns a 1991 Harley-Davidson (45MPG)
281 MPG/12 People with Cars = 23.41666 MPG average
Now, I quibble with the post’s calculation: the task force should get credit for the number of hippies on the task force–Farrell, Browner, and Chu–who have no car, and if it did, the fuel efficiency for the overall transportation would be much higher than 23.4 MPG (or would have been before these folks came to DC and started getting carted around in what may well be big Chevy Suburbans) and therefore would beat CAFE standards.
Nevertheless, the post makes a very good point. I don’t fault most of the individual choices of the members of this list: it may be better for Summers, Heinzerlingra, and Wade to drive relatively old cars than to incur the environmental costs of a new car (and Heinzerlingra may have an excuse for needing the less efficient all wheel drive of the Subie, though most people driving around DC don’t). The minivans–Bernstein and Orszag–are more efficient than SUVs, if you really need the space, and the Highlander is one of the most efficient SUVs this side of a Hybrid Escape. I presume the Volvo drivers are working under the out-dated assumption that they are refrigerators whose safety is so much better than other cars that it’s worth the trade-off in mileage (they would have been better off to buy one of the Fords built on the same chassis, but whatever). Geithner and DeBoer have no excuse for buying such gas guzzlers so recently. And, jeebus, if you’re going to buy a car as small as the Mini Cooper, it damn well better get over 30 MPG. So bounce Geithner, DeBoer, and Utech from the task force for their indefensible car choices, because they clearly don’t have the judgment that will help the industry.
But still. the list does prove the point the auto manufactuerers–both domestic and (more quietly) foreign–have been making. American consumers–including at least half the members of the task force–like bigger, more powerful and heavier, arguably safer cars. And even the foreign manufacturers aren’t building cars that are as efficient as industry critics say they should be. And, frankly, these are the consumers from whom manufacturers can expect to sell a car at a profit, given their higher than average disposable income (the Cavalier is probably the only car that was sold at minimal or no profit).
If these guys are actively choosing cars that bring CAFE standards down–even from foreign manufacturers–then they might want to revise their claims about what drives inefficient in the country, because they–as consumers–sort of prove that it’s not just auto manufacturer intransigence.
Incidentally, the ew family fuel standard is rougly 31 MPG. Mr. ew’s VW Passat 4-cylinder turbo gets 30+ on his trips, somehow (he’s got one of those insta-reads and has adjusted his driving accordingly). And my Fit gets ~33 in my usual around the town driving, though much higher on road trips.
Aw jeebus, this is ridiculous. Heh. I am literally shocked that this group of clucks is as reasonable as they are with their car choices. There isn’t a one of them that has a proper car if you ask me. Geithner’s TSX would be close, except Acuras are freaking front wheel drive. Minivans and Cavaliers – Ugh.
And these are the people that are supposed to know, understand and save the auto industry??? What a pathetic joke. There isn’t a real car person among them, not fucking one, and this list is glaring proof. Bleeech!
You mean because none of them owns a Dodge Viper with the Hennessy Venom package?
I am impressed with the alacrity with which you whipped that out. And yes, I would like to see at least one of these mopes own some kind of car guy’s car. Just freaking one. They don’t have to drive it every day, just own one. There are a whole shitload of minivans and front wheel drive boxes, but no proper driver’s cars. Volvos, but no BMWs?? This is a group that is bereft of auto soul. Other than the dude with the Mini and maybe the Prius, there isn’t even any creative quirky cool or green machines like some family machines disclosed earlier above. Just a whole bunch of blah.
Does the Harley count for anything?
Yeah, that’s got some cool, but it is not really an automobile now is it?
I must disagree, Volvos make the nicest Tractors in the World …
Dang, bmaz, have you never driven a Mini-Cooper. By the way, you didn’t say what you drove – a Buick Roadmaster, perhaps.
I gave the Mini somewhat of an exception @14 above, did you miss that, or was it insufficient? I have driven two or three of them, including a pretty wild supercharged one. Very cool. But I would be far more predisposed to a 911 if I wanted effectively a two seater. I have had several 911s, but none currently. Currently I drive a BMW 528.
Just hadn’t got there yet. yeah, the 911’s great – just a tad more pricey than the Mini, though.
Yeah, the priciness is why I no longer have one. Now would be the perfect time to pick one up too, were I not semi-broke along with everyone else.
>Minivans and Cavaliers – Ugh.
I’m not sure what you mean. I’m such a not-a-car-person that I truly can’t tell which direction your sarcasm is pointing.
But one of my mottos is that SUV’s are just minivans for posers. The whole SUV thing in my opinion was a double dodge, no pun intended. Doofuses got a vehicle big enough to hold the car-seats, while pretending they were the sort of people who needed a ‘utility vehicle’, AND they got to skip out on CAFE standards. I think a minivan is at the least a sign of higher than average integrity.
Headline Reading Fail on PW’s part: When I first saw the title, I thought it referred to enemas.
We should let the vehicle manufacturers go bankrupt. the airlines did it a few years ago and they seem to have come back just fine. By going bankrupt they can renegotiate the labor contracts with the uaw in favor of the company and not the union.
It is the American way, you start a business, you make money and you suffer the consequences of your behavior. Why should the gov bail them out. Let them fix their own problems.
1) You obviously missed Sully’s point of the other day, that in the process of bankruptcy and exactly the kind of renegotiations with unions that the airlines have gone through, air travel has gotten less safe. You want safety on your car manufacture to go down now too?
2) Buying an airline ticket that will be used in a matter of weeks is dramatically different from buying a $20,000 car that will have a 5 year warranty. Which is why your argument is totally off point.
3) The American way, according to you, is that the US makes it harder for US companies to compete (because it doesn’t offer the same social services as our developed country competitors) and then just lets those companies go under as a result. DOesn’t sound very smart to me.
If the bankruptcy you suggest would cost the government as much or more money as the current tact (and there is a very decent argument it would do just that) would this still be your plan?
Surely the guy with the 98 Cavalier gets some kind of extra credit points? *g*
Does a MiniCooper really only get 25 mpg?
2 – I know nothing about cars, but I’d vote for the Top Gear guys to be hired to save the car industry. It could be done as a reality show – the guys could each get their own company for czaring. The future’s so bright – where are my damn sunglasses?
Damn. That’s a fucking brilliant idea. Top Gun saves Detroit.
EW, you may have misunderstood Mary. “Top Gear” is a BBC show about cars featuring three car-nut presenters – one of whom, Jeremy Clarkson, maybe the most obnoxious person on British television. He recently had to apologise for calling Gordon Brown ” a one-eyed Scottish idiot” (Brown is
blind in one eye). He would fit in well on Fox News.
Top Gear is almost bad comedy though. Cringeworthy may be appropriate term. It can be a delicious sin though. Manny , Moe and Jackoff. Heh
Oh no. I know Top Gear–it’s one of the few shows I know and like.
You are one brilliant and funny person
“the futures so bright where are my damn sunglasses”
Farrell, Browner and Chu – How do they get around?
Suggested edit – highlight Montgomery’s Harley (45MPG). And remind me, are CO2 emissions linear across vehicle type?
Done.
How much did the airlines bankruptcy cost the gov, not sure. I would think their suppliers were the ones who suffered. Same for the auto industry, their suppliers would suffer, unions, parts suppliers, management, I imagine.
So going bankrupt and restructuring might be a great thing for the industry.
Did the gov in the past already give $$$ to Chrysler, how did that work out.
Um, apparently you’ve totally missed that the suppliers are themselves on the brink of bankruptcy themselves, partly because margins are already so thin and partly bc they’ve got big delays in getting paid bc of the decline in auto sales?
So you’re willing to bankrupt the suppliers now too?
3 million jobs in hock because you want to bankrupt manufacturers AND suppliers, which will bring down the healthy manufacturers?
Gosh, your ideas get smarter and smarter.
Yep, what EW responded with @13 and, on top of that, the problem is that during the airlines analogy you seem bent on raising, there was a functioning economy to where they were able to obtain debtor in possession financing and credit while reorganizing. That is neither available nor possible in the mess we have now; i.e. my point that the government would be doing that and it would likely cost more than what is currently being done. Lastly, the airlines do not make things, they are effectively an expensive service industry; there is an absolutely huge difference in paradigms.
Thank you!!!
It’s a complex problem. Which is why people who actually know about the industry have realized that bankruptcy would not solve the Big 2.5’s problems even while it would cause a whole heap of new ones.
It’s very easy to say “bankruptcy will solve anything” but not when you’re talking about 10% of our industrial capacity.
I was pretty sure of that and was going to say something, but got distracted by PW whipping out the horespower reference. Hennessey Vipers are faster than a jet!
Btw, that picture is me “riding” a cousin’s Harley–though it’s likely from about 1975 range. I’m hurt no one commented on it.
How cute a little EW,Cool
And on a Bad Motor Scooter too.
Egads, you even look like you! Nice pix.
But you appear to be more interested in the camera than the Harley…
Who knew that 30+ years later you’d be full of technical advice on how to save Detroit?
Bob in HI
At that point in my life I was undoubtedly more prepared to give technical advise on how to save IBM.
I’ve moved once or twice since then.
Raises fleet averages.
Me, I’m just the geek who wants to raise fleet averages realistically (and with profit tied to it, even though no one wants the gas tax it’d require). I haven’t been cool since I was 8.
You are cool and Fit baybee!!
Yeah, and you know what? When I was at the Honda to bring my Fit in for its RECALL yesterday, I realized the 08 is gonna be a classic bc the 09 looks like a crappy ass mini-mini-van.
By the way, that look in the photo above wouldn’t happen to be one of those “these boys can’t drive for jack and are gonna crash us” looks perchance would it??
It was probably just total impatience with what was obviously a stupid photo op.
And frustration that I got stuck on the back.
They have to do that nose job across the manufacturing spectrum.
Apparently, the beaked nose minimizes injury to pedestrians, should they get run into … ugly though.
I understand now.
We should bail out companies that build inferior products that our elected officials and American people do not use.
It is all clear now, us my money to keep out dated products available and companies that have not kept up with improvement demands.
Good grief !
I guess you’re missing the point of the post, which is that a lot of ignorant people assume foreign manufacturers have “kept up with improvement demands” and American manufacturers haven’t. When in fact foreign manufacturers have been following American approaches as much as the reverse, to all our detriment.
That, plus you apparently don’t get the whole point about what happens when you ask American companies to compete with companies whose workers get their health care and pension paid for does. But it doesn’t seem like your point is to understand stuff, really.
I could not agree more Marcy
How do we convince ourselves that ALL actions are interrelated in such a way that we must be accountable for all of them. This is daunting but true. I am against a law that requires seat belts, but I and my children would wear them regardless of the law. I believe absolutely that cigarettes are poison, but more for what is added by the industry than for the burning tobacco leaves and therefore I find them horribly culpable BUT my dad smokes and I hold him responsible for making me breathe his toxic output and when I go to his house I must be exposed to the toxins in the foamate. And we continue to allow this though we know what is right and what is good for us ALL…we allow addictions and personal choice to erase others’ personal choice and defend this as FREEDOM. Doesn’t this hold true for an argument about cars and fuel standards and emissions…my choices matter and not just to me and my wallet, but to all who live and breathe. Why do we argue about choice when that defense of what’s “American” is what is killing us. I must allow you to kill yourself ONLY; NOT if that gunshot kills me too.
Speaking of Buicks, didn’t I read that GM is planning on keeping a small number of brands: Caddy, GMC, Chevy, as I recall, plus — wait for it — Buick. Is there some hotbed of demand for Buicks of which I am not aware? Is there a midrange that couldn’t be covered by Caddy/Chevy? Is there any hope of rebranding Buick into an inventive, green, high-mileage, carbon fiber, solar-powered, cutting-edge people capsule? Or is it just what it looks like: the same stodginess that got them into this jam in the first place?
Also — what are the odds of getting so many cars with mpg clustered tightly around the mean (23 mpg)? It smacks of a “design point”, unless there’s some greater physical law at work. This has puzzled me for a while, now, living as I do with a boxy Honda that resolutely gets less mileage than the Taurus it replaced, 22 in the winter, 24 in the summer, so, yes, 23 mpg. (Years ago I was perfectly happy with my V-4 SAAB 96 which once got 42 mpg on a long trip, with some fortuitous drafting, but was reliably in the 30s, if memory serves.)
Yes, there is a hotbed of demand for Buicks you are not aware of.
It’s called China, where Buicks are enormously successful. Also, GM has integrated some of the changes they’ve made in the Chinese market into the US, so I expect that in the long run they hope to get some cheap (Chinese) engineering into their Buicks.
Buick is key for the Asian market and sells better here than you might think. It was Buick or Pontiac – Pontiac has nothing but the G6 and G8 going for it at this point, it was an easy choice.
I noticed the same thing bmaz did–the total blahness of the cars–but had kind of the opposite reaction. I mean, my ex in grad school had a ‘95 Protege. That thing was an ugly, cheap, grad-student-y car. It’s the first time I’ve had any respect for Summers, to learn he drives such a beast!
What a little doll you were, Marcy! Well, you still are, but not in that little girl way. Are the boys brothers?
The brunette is the older of my two bros, the blond is a cousin.
If y’all were this young and if you lived on my street, you’d be getting Jello & Pudding this afternoon.
It is a balmy 49 Degrees right now but will plunge to zero tonight … gotta give the kids a taste of what’s waiting for them when Spring arrives.
But was it a SofTail Hog??
I’d like to mention that both the CAFE and EPA ratings have very little to do with _actual_ fuel mileage (fleet or personal), and can be exceeded in nearly any car by anyone taking the initiative to practice simple “eco-driving” techniques.
Obama’s task force could track their actual fuel mileage using their existing cars on a website like FuelClinic [http://www.fuelclinic.com] and use the eco-driving techniques to show the nation the easily repeatable efficiency improvements _anyone_ can make – and it wouldn’t cost a dime.
I already have enough problems with mindless idiots yakking on their cell phones, eating, putting on makeup and picking their noses; that is on top of the fact that most people can’t drive for shit to start with. I am not convinced I want them all accelerating like dead snails and coasting and all that other crap to try to save that last 1/2 cup of fuel. If they are worried about gas mileage, they should get a more efficient car or ride a bicycle. Once they are on the road, however, they need to get on with it or get the heck out of the way.
They can do in on paper, just as easily. Or in a spreadsheet program.
Heck, my car tells me what my mileage is, at the touch of a button, and I’d bet some of those cars do too.
—
Are those EPA city, or over-all mileage figures?
(Yes, they could get cars with much better mileage, but those cars might not fit their personal images.)
Sure they can – that’s how I started. The point is that they are in a position to be good role models to the rest (and drive fairly “regular” cars), so instead of attempting to improve their mileage in private – they could do so publicly, in a way that encourages others to also participate.
And Marcy hasn’t changed a hair since that pic was taken.
Well, I went through the whole bald stage in-between. It had me nostalgic for the “with hair” look since, and so, voila! I’m 7 again!!
Ya mean Marcy was a punk rocker?
Non-car owners represent!
How cool is it that our Energy Secretary & climate czar don’t have cars? Are they in a car-share club? Does someone else in their family have a car? Do they take public transit, or did they before their appointment to greatness?
I’m hoping Chu doesn’t drive some giant DodgeRam and simply copped out on the “doesn’t own a car” answer.
Frankly, I am not all that impressed that the people in charge of understanding and saving the auto industry don’t freaking own a car.
Isn’t it enough to say they’re from NoCal?
I think I noticed a halo on that little EW.
Now that is a picture.
Oh com’on – no way is Clarkson Faux News material. He actually writes his own cards.
Top Gear guys show their environmental concerns off:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5nBAQ5Kn3I
(that’s where my fake leopardskin handcuffs ended up)
top gun v. top gear
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eiJkQzpzRc
Let’s face – the guys survived Alabama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOyDLUzAAOY
Surely they’d be more fun than Judd Gregg. They might even get LaHood to fess up on what kind of car he owns.
Are you really sure you want to know what’s under La Hood?
So this is the new vetting process?
I’m a girly man… I have a 2000 Honda Accord and could give
a shit what people drive…. wink, wink…
Cars are only fucking transportation to get from A to B.
I thought I recognized a photo of a young emptywheelette.
Had to check the comments to be sure. Very cute.
That’s a Cooper S. The Mini One or the Cooper D (not available in the US, natch) top 40 MP(US)G.
IIRC, the Pontiac G8 is a rebadged Holden. Pontiac and Saturn have been dumping grounds for rebadged or remodelled Holdens and Vauxhall/Opels for a fair few years.
Nonono. SUVs are for male pickup drivers who think that a minivan will make their penis ingrowing. Which is bizarre, since ‘minivan’ is usually read to mean ‘I have procreated’.