backtop

Print 66 comment(s) - last by rsmech.. on Jun 22 at 2:20 AM

Nissan Leaf

  (Source: Scientific American)
Study shows inexpensive gasoline is the reason

A new report reveals that the United States is in the lead when it comes to countries who produce the most automotive greenhouse gas emissions, and it's because of relatively cheap gas.

JATO Dynamics Ltd, a provider of automotive data, conducted a study on the release of CO2 emissions in automotive vehicles around the world. JATO collected figures from the United States, Europe and Japan, and compared their greenhouse gas output. 

According to the study, the U.S. is far behind both Europe and Japan in cutting vehicle emissions. The United States' average CO2 emissions are 268.5 grams per kilometer. When full size vans, small commercial vehicles and pick-up trucks are excluded, this number drops to 255.6 g/km. In Europe, the overall number of CO2 emissions is 140.3 g/km and Japan takes first place for the least amount of harmful gaseous emissions with only 130.8 g/km. The study indicates that Japanese and European car markets "gain advantage through downsizing and diesel adoption."

JATO says one of the reasons for the United States' leadership in CO2 emissions is the low price of gas. The study shows that "the USA market is dominated by gasoline which has 81.9 percent market share, with only 1.7 percent being diesel." Other market shares, such as Europe's, is 48.9 percent diesel fuel, and Japan's "congested roads make very small and economical gasoline cars a popular choice."  Also, JATO's figures reveal that "33.9 percent of vehicles sold in the U.S. still fall within a 15-20 mpg consumption bracket, compared with only 0.28 percent in Europe and 0.63 percent in Japan."

"It is still clear that American consumers need to undergo a fundamental re-think of their vehicle buying preferences, but the past period of economic upheaval is likely to have meant that other domestic issues have taken consumer's priority," said David Mitchell, President of JATO Americas. 

"The blame can't just lie with consumers though, the OEM product offering in the U.S. still does little to promote alternatives to the large engine capacity gasoline vehicles which still dominate the market."

These different areas in the world vary partly because of different "CO2-based taxation regimes that reward or penalize certain technologies." Europe's "scrappage" plans have led to the development of fuel efficient and low polluting cars while Japan's focus on hybrids, EVs, and highly efficient gasoline engines.

"An interesting point to note, is that American consumers have been significantly more inclined to adopt hybrid technology than the Europeans," said Mitchell. "Hybrids have 2.3 percent market share in the U.S. while in Europe it is still only 0.5 percent. Not surprisingly, Japan leads the way with 10.1 percent of market share going to hybrids."

The U.S. may be struggling to keep up with Europe and Japan, but the country has improved since last year. From 2009 to 2010, America's average emissions went down by 1.0 g/km. Europe fared better dropping 4.3 g/km, while Japan's emissions wend down 0.4 g/km. 

Comments     Threshold


This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
You're saying like that's a bad thing
By corduroygt on 6/17/2010 10:54:39 AM , Rating: 2
We'we got the roomiest, most comfortable, and the most powerful cars (on the average), and we live in less congested areas with bigger homes with yards, so we end up driving more.

Except for the time lost in driving, that sounds like a higher standard of living for us compared to the rest of the world.




RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By wuZheng on 6/17/10, Rating: -1
RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By corduroygt on 6/17/2010 11:29:59 AM , Rating: 2
Many of us, including many scientists, are of the conclusion that excess CO2 is not a threat to the world, so we don't make any attempts to limit it, nor should anyone else.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By alanore on 6/17/10, Rating: -1
RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By Spuke on 6/17/2010 5:32:21 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Any what happens if its proved to be true?
Then you accept it or reject it and move on. Being wrong is not evil or unnatural, it just is. Accept your humanity.


By alanore on 6/17/2010 5:42:38 PM , Rating: 2
I wasn't refering to the moral implications.


By YashBudini on 6/17/2010 10:35:54 PM , Rating: 1
Ever notice that a handful of people try to fix stupid while everyone benefits?


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By mmatis on 6/17/2010 1:10:23 PM , Rating: 2
You might also want to consider that the US has a more widely distributed population than most other 1st world countries. Except for the clowns in the large metropolitan areas, many Americans have a much further distance to drive to gte anywhere than do British, French, Germans, or Japanese. While I have no problem telling the Noo Jorkers to stay up there and don't sully our beaches, I'm not about to tolerate some bureaucRAT telling me I can't drive somewhere. And I doubt that I'm alone in that sentiment.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By tallcool1 on 6/17/2010 3:25:58 PM , Rating: 1
Don't forget that the USA is massive in size, and only a few countries in the world rival its size. Most countries, are about the size of one State. So it is only obvouis that the USA as a whole would put out more emmissions. Comparing the USA to say France, or Japan for example, would not even be a realistic comparision.

Taxing something into oblivion just to keep people from using it is just rediculous.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By alanore on 6/17/2010 5:15:52 PM , Rating: 2
Thats why the measurements are grams of CO2 per KM, not journey.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By Targon on 6/18/2010 7:18:34 AM , Rating: 2
People forget a basic concept, which is that when you spend more time on a journey, you want more comfort, and you also want to travel faster. If you only have to spend 15 minutes to drive to work, a POS smartcar will be fine. When you have to spend an hour to get to work, you NEED to have a more comfortable experience.

I myself spend between two to four hours a day driving for my business, and if you think I would be able to keep my sanity in a smartcar which isn't suitable for highway driving, think again.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By hughlle on 6/20/2010 2:53:06 PM , Rating: 2
poppycock. i drive a piss poor skoda on long journeys regularly just fine, as do thousamds of other people who can't afford to buy a fast comfortable car.


By YashBudini on 6/21/2010 12:27:46 PM , Rating: 2
Oddly Americans whined less while driving Pintos and Vegas.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By Exodite on 6/17/2010 4:29:31 PM , Rating: 5
quote:
Except for the clowns in the large metropolitan areas, many Americans have a much further distance to drive to gte anywhere than do British, French, Germans, or Japanese.

Which should be entirely irrelevant when discussing emissions per kilometer.

The issue here isn't just a dispersed population, a long-standing tradition of driving everywhere or the subsidizing/lower taxation of fuel but the fuel economy and emissions from the kind of vehicles US citizens choose to use.

As for the other arguments regarding the impact of said emissions there's little point in even discussing it on DailyTech. The US, and by extension a good deal of DailyTech posters, remain the one country in the world that clings to the notion that ongoing climate change due to greenhouse emissions is some kind of hoax or that there's disagreement in the scientific community of the long-term effects of the way we've been living for the last 100-150 years.

It's like the whole 'cigarettes don't cause lung cancer, no really - there's no proof they do' of years past. Feel free to argue the point, just keep in mind that the rest of the world is caught somewhere between laughing and crying regarding that stance.

Not saying who's right or wrong mind you, just that as a country the US stands alone with that kind of reasoning.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By Spuke on 6/17/2010 4:50:42 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
Not saying who's right or wrong mind you, just that as a country the US stands alone with that kind of reasoning.
Maybe you guys are more sheepish than we are. A consensus, IMO, is when most people agree. Like most scientists believe that gravity holds us to the earth or that humans require air to survive. I don't really care that the "pro-GW" scientists don't believe what the "anti-GW" scientists believes. The facts are if you have a disagreement, you don't have a consensus. And if you don't have a consensus, there must be SOME merit to BOTH sides and those merits NEED to be explored, not discarded.

Science isn't a religion. There really is no believe or disbelieve. There is only what we know and what we don't know. And lots of science is incomplete meaning it will either take a while to get all of the facts or we'll find something that scraps what we know. GW is a theory. Theories are not complete. There's more to know and instead of arguing about beliefs, we (if this is your field of study) need to learn more about what's going on.

Personally, I find it troubling of the behaviors of some of these scientists. Some are treating it as a religion. Way too much emotional investment. And that throws their credibility to the wind. Are they really interested in the facts? I don't know but I don't generally trust what someone tells me. I ALWAYS go find out for for myself. And I am currently undecided.


By spread on 6/18/2010 9:07:13 PM , Rating: 2
The problem with this global warming is that its mostly a big drama show by the media.

Some evidence:

quote:
Curious about the Heartland Institute's list of "500 Prominent Scientists" who deny global warming, Kevin decided to contact some of the folks on the list. He put together a list of 150 email addresses...simply the addresses he found it most easy to acquire. After only 24 hours, he'd received 45 emails from angry scientists saying that they, in no way, denied anthropogenic global warming. It turns out that the heartland institute had never told the scientists they were going on the list, nor did they check to see if these people actually had any doubts about the causes of climate change.

Source link: http://www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/1...


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By Reclaimer77 on 6/17/2010 5:59:04 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
The US, and by extension a good deal of DailyTech posters, remain the one country in the world that clings to the notion that ongoing climate change due to greenhouse emissions is some kind of hoax


Right which is why China, India, Japan, and a host of other countries have flat out rejected Copenhagen style reduction methods. Also explains why the UK recently canceled it's emissions reduction plan because after 10 years, there was NO measurable decrease. It failed.

But hey, right, it's JUST the United States that isn't willing to destroy it's economy in favor of silly carbon reductions schemes. That's sarcasm, by the way. You are flat out WRONG. Plenty of other countries are refusing to "do their part", and for damn good reasons too. They know what Copenhagen style reduction policies would do: destroy their economies!

quote:
Not saying who's right or wrong mind you, just that as a country the US stands alone with that kind of reasoning.


You know what, it's a GOOD thing when the US stands alone on something. Here's a clue, the rest of the world isn't always right. In fact, if the rest of the world was so great, the U.S wouldn't be able to "stand alone" on everything. Nobody want's to admit it here, but the U.S is a far better place to live than most of the world. Sorry, it's true. There are great places out there, the U.S is behind in some areas, and ahead in some, but when you tally it all up, sorry, this is flat out the greatest country on the planet.

Now some angry American hating 'tard is going to flip out and accuse me of flag waving or whatever, but I don't care. I don't need to back up my statements, millions of people coming to live HERE every single year speak for me. Are millions of American's flooding to Europe or South America or Africa or Canada every year to live?? I didn't think so.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By BZDTemp on 6/18/2010 3:44:34 PM , Rating: 2
It is sad really to see how scared many people are of change.

Like it our not gas prizes are going to go up just do a little reading on "peak oil" and you'll see why. So change will happen like it or not, however embracing change will let the US grasp the many opportunities which again will generate jobs.

I for one live in a country which is #1 in wind mill production and of course wind power. And our economy is doing great compare to just about everywhere and it's the same with quality of life.

And about who did or did not support the COP15 it pretty much goes back to the Kyoto protocol. As the world biggest polluter the US needs to step up to the plate and when it does not then it becomes a great excuse for other countries. It is not like China and the other countries say the climate change is a hoax they just don't feel like having to do anything when the US does not.I know it looks like the US was gonna commit this time as opposed to in Kyoto but the commitment was pretty weak.


By Nfarce on 6/18/2010 11:23:19 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
It is sad really to see how scared many people are of change. Like it our not gas prizes are going to go up just do a little reading on "peak oil" and you'll see why. So change will happen like it or not, however embracing change will let the US grasp the many opportunities which again will generate jobs.


We've seen the "change" during the last election. And we don't like it. Gas prices the last several years adjusted for inflation in America are generally on par with when Jimmy Carter was president during the mid-late 1970s oil OPEC crunch in adjusted dollars. And that was a generation and a half ago when we were supposed to run out of oil.

quote:
As the world biggest polluter the US needs to step up to the plate and when it does not then it becomes a great excuse for other countries.


Laughable. Those in China had to don masks during the Olympics because of their pollution.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By Reclaimer77 on 6/19/2010 1:23:23 PM , Rating: 2
Peak oil is a myth. Why don't you go and do a little reading on Eugene Island and explain to me how peak oil can be valid if oilfields are being constantly refilled by an unexplained deep core source.

Even if peak oil was true, nobody can give an accurate prediction as to when. It's a theory, nothing more. Based on the assumption that oil is a resource that will be exhausted maybe, sorta, at some point whenever.

Peak Oil is used to keep oil prices artificially high. Nothing more. Fact is the supply is MUCH more abundant than they want the general public to know.

quote:
I for one live in a country which is #1 in wind mill production and of course wind power. And our economy is doing great compare to just about everywhere and it's the same with quality of life.


Does this country have a name? You are being a little too cryptic. what are you hiding? Probably the fact that your country has a tiny population. Suggesting that wind power is practical for a large number of people is laughable.


By Laereom on 6/20/2010 8:08:20 PM , Rating: 2
There are a number of concepts that surround production of goods and services, product life cycles, resource depletion and so fourth, and it comes down to this:

There are basically four stages -- I'll use the stages outlined in most books that talk about product life cycles.

1) Introduction (high margins, low volume, high growth rate)
2) Growth (moderate margins, moderate volume, moderate growth rate)
3) Maturity (moderate-low margins, high volume, near zero growth rate0
4) Decline (moderate-low margins, initially high volume, negative growth rate)

World oil production has been essentially flat since 2005. On first glance, this indicates that at least on the production side of things, we're hitting the maturity phase.

On the other hand, OPEC has been aggressively halting or slowing production as much as possible to keep their margins high. Neverthelaess 'as much as possible' isn't much. We're looking at an industry which is nearing its maximum capacity to produce. When it hits that maximum capacity (and we don't know when that is, but there is some solid evidence that it will be in the foreseeable -- think in decades -- future. Oil gathered from the ground is simply becoming harder and harder to find. There are tens of thousands of depleted oil fields on earth. ONE field got a refill from deeper in the earth. Hell, maybe several have. But the numbers still bare out -- overall, we're running out of cheap and easy oil. Eventually, it won't be worth digging up anymore.

Which is, in fact, while this whole carbon emissions worry is bunk. We're going to run out within a life time. When we do, the surface of the earth will be a few degrees warmer. Woohoo, more farmland!

On the other hand, it does indicate a need, if not pressing, to create new technologies to replace our current social standard of fossil oil powered internal combustion engine driven individually owned vehicles.

Thankfully, it looks as though the next set of technologies will be far more diverse, and more technology driven rather than resource driven. This will do a lot to ensure that the wealth they create is more equitable and permanently distributed amongst many diverse parties, which should do a lot to prevent us from having the same problems we have been having -- such as recessions whenever our economy gets growing again due to oil price constraints, dependence on corrupt regimes, and constantly increasing costs.

Whew. More than I meant to type, but there's my .02 on the issue.


By Ammohunt on 6/21/2010 3:10:02 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Does this country have a name? You are being a little too cryptic. what are you hiding? Probably the fact that your country has a tiny population. Suggesting that wind power is practical for a large number of people is laughable.


I was wondering the same thing as i recently drove across the largest wind farm in the world in Texas...Wind turbines as far as the eye can see. Euro trash and their myth that America is not doing our part we just don't fall inline with their whacky ways.


By therealnickdanger on 6/17/2010 3:32:26 PM , Rating: 4
... and yet somehow, life goes on.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By theapparition on 6/17/2010 4:20:14 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
The article is also saying America puts out more emissions than the rest of the world.

NO IT IS NOT!!!!

It is saying we produce more automotive CO2 then any other country.

Other countries are far worse with pollution and CO2, but the slant on this focuses only on automotive CO2, which is a small portion of the total CO2 the world produces.

That's if CO2 was even a problem.


By Solandri on 6/17/2010 6:44:23 PM , Rating: 5
Yeah, China recently passed the U.S. as largest CO2 emitter.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_...

Per capita, the U.S., Canada, and Australia are all about the same.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_...

In terms of emissions per $GDP (basically, how much CO2 does an country emit per dollar of productivity), the U.S. is middle of the pack.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_...


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By The Raven on 6/17/2010 12:02:35 PM , Rating: 3
This is based on emissions per/km so 'driving more' has nothing to do with this. On the other hand, the power you mention is a factor in this. Though that in turn exists partially because of the roominess (read: SUV) that Americans require. (Not to mention the 'arms race' that soccer moms are in for the biggest safest automobile.)

Oh and you forgot the fact that many of us Americans are (theoretically) lazier than the EU and Japan because no one rides bikes even in cases where it is a very viable option.

Also, you forget that many of those bigger homes you mention are practically just doled out by the gov't with subsidies and low interest rates. That sounds more like a higher welfare standard and not a higher living standard to me.

And what time lost driving? I am typing this as I drive!


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By callmeroy on 6/17/2010 2:58:36 PM , Rating: 2
I'd ride bike in a heart beat (only if the weather was nice though) to work if it was viable...30 miles one way across a bridge that spans into a different state, then onto an interstate highway that is jammed packed all the time during the week (well at least until about 10 pm then it is calm until about 4 am)...that's not very viable. To be honest my whole working life i've never had a "bikable" route to work.

As for the homes thing...your point was valid until 2 years ago...what do you think attributed to the crash of the economy? There's no longer homes being "doled out" by the government anymore...sub-prime is dead for the most part...too bad it took such a beating for everyone to learn the lesson.

Now you have to actually (get this...) PROVE you can afford the mortgage before you get it....amazing concept I know...

I used to work for a mortgage bank (one of the biggest that fell in '08) .... probably the only good thing to come of all this is the burn was so great, so many lost their jobs, so many companies folded, so much economic hurt -- hopefully the banking industry at least learned their lesson and we won't repeat the same mistake again...


By The Raven on 6/18/2010 10:20:58 AM , Rating: 2
I agree with most of what you said, but we as a people have got to be fools if we think this financial mess won't happen again, regardless if the customers make enough to afford the houses. One part of the mess was that people who COULD afford the houses just walked away. And no I didn't hear that from NBC or Fox. I had friends that made the decision to walk because they would be losing so much if they stayed. Many of my family are in real estate and they saw tons of people walk (they deal mostly in NorCal).

So that regulation is just one part of the problem and who knows what other unforseen problems there were/are.

Or we can just trust the gov't to ensure that we are safe (like they did prior to the Great Recession). Both the Dems and Reps want to put people in houses as much as the banks want to put people in houses. They all make money from it. They don't care about what is right.

And how is Obama's tax credit for "1st" time home buyers not the gov't continuing to dole out homes? Or the fact that the gov't helped people keep homes they "couldn't" afford? (I say "couldn't" because they probably could if they didn't have such large CC bils and car payments)

That is the gov't essentially selling homes. The gov't should not be in the real estate business.

quote:
hopefully the banking industry at least learned their lesson and we won't repeat the same mistake again...


Hopefully they didn't learn their lesson... that is to say the part where they learned that they are too big to fail.

Oh and I don't fault you for not riding your bike. Like I said "very viable". I agree that your situation is less than "very viable" but I commend you for even thinking about it. Most people don't, regardless of traffic flow or gas prices.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By Murloc on 6/17/2010 2:54:46 PM , Rating: 2
you still get pollution, even if you don't care about CO2.
And living in huge houses distribuited everywhere doesn't mean better quality of life.
In europe you don't have to live in a caravan if you can't find a job (except nomads)


By smackababy on 6/17/2010 4:27:39 PM , Rating: 3
I f*ckin 'ate Pikeys!


By callmeroy on 6/17/2010 3:04:57 PM , Rating: 1
If you are looking at just the facts and leave your emotions out of it...factually we americans are the pigs of the world.

(In more ways than one...since the average american is also more overweight than just about the "average" citizen of any other nation on the planet) We consume huge quantities of resources for our relatively small population of 300 million.

But on the other hand I'm starting to get tired of the guilt tripping we get laid on us...

Every story just about, about energy or global warming usually has some back hand slap in it for the American people.

I'm saving energy -- I just spent $10,000 on energy improvements for my home AND bought a more fuel efficient car...plus I don't waste energy...I'm doing my part...

So if I want to drive my 'big' car...STFU and let me drive it...

I'm tired of already working to do "good" by everyone and the environment and busting my arse at work and then I'm supposed to feel bad about enjoying my free time with the things I buy....

The rest of the world doesn't like it too bad...


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By axias41 on 6/17/2010 3:44:05 PM , Rating: 2
So, are you the happiest people of the world?


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By Smilin on 6/17/2010 4:32:00 PM , Rating: 1
In general we're pretty happy but not the happiest. We are some of the hardest working though.

Europeans = 35hrs/week, Week at at the lake.
Americans = 45hrs/week, WeekEND at the lake with a Yacht.

Americans work harder and play harder. We've more money to play with but less time to use it.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By Exodite on 6/17/2010 4:42:13 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
We've more money to play with but less time to use it.

Not entirely true.

Your average wages are fairly high, your median wages are quite poor though.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By Spuke on 6/17/2010 4:55:08 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Your average wages are fairly high, your median wages are quite poor though.
More disposable income is probably more accurate. Average household income in the US is around $60k USD a year. Lower than a lot of EU countries but our taxes, homes, goods and services are a lot lower than the EU also. Gives the appearance that we have more money. We don't, we just have more to spend.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By Reclaimer77 on 6/17/2010 6:03:15 PM , Rating: 1
It's all relative. In America you can live DAMN well for around 50-60k a year. In Europe, 50k wouldn't get you a studio apartment and a tiny car.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By B3an on 6/18/2010 12:02:44 AM , Rating: 2
You're always such a stereotypical amaerican, eg an A hole, you know that?

Theres many countries in Europe that have higher living standards than the U.S. If you ever bothered to leave you're trailer park and visit these better places it might open you're eyes... but very unlikely that will ever happen.

The US is around 10th in the world for living standards.


By The Raven on 6/18/2010 10:39:20 AM , Rating: 2
I agree that there are people like these, "stereotypical Americans" of which you speak. But this guy's comment is a good one. He is just saying that things are relative. He says that you only need 50K to live "DAMN" well and I would say that you only need 35K to live "DAMN" well. I am in Missouri while I would guess that he is talking about my home state of California.

And I would think that what you consider "DAMN" well depends largely on how appreciate you are.

And please refrain from sounding like a stereotypical USA hater. The reference to living in a trailer park is tired, even in the States.

quote:
The US is around 10th in the world for living standards.


Are you trying to prove this "A-hole's" point? 10th in the World? Are you kidding me? You consider that bad?


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By Targon on 6/18/2010 7:34:44 AM , Rating: 2
The USA is such a big place, you miss the fact that in places you can make $50-60k a year, the costs tend to be high enough where that isn't enough. It really takes at least 70k/year to afford a 3 bedroom 1 bath home on a quarter acre where I live, and that is for a house that needs a fair amount of work...and that isn't living well, that is just average living. I am talking about $245,000 for that, and that was CHEAP.

Obviously there are places that you can get a much larger home for half that amount in this country, but to generalize and make it seem that prices in the midwest can be found everywhere just makes it seem like it is much easier to live EVERYWHERE in the USA.

If you think about it, the USA could be divided up into different regions, and how affordable it is can be linked to where you are looking. The Northeast, you have the southeast, you have the midwest, and you have the west coast. The costs in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and up into Massachusetts are going to be MUCH higher than if you look at South Carolina.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By Reclaimer77 on 6/18/2010 8:30:46 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
The costs in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and up into Massachusetts are going to be MUCH higher than if you look at South Carolina.


Notice I said "can" live. Obviously if you choose to live in ultra-Liberal states you are going to need much more income. Hell even mega billionaires are fleeing New York and California.


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By YashBudini on 6/20/2010 5:22:55 PM , Rating: 1
"Hell even mega billionaires are fleeing New York and California. "

Makes you wonder why they didn't live in Dumbfuckistan in the first place, doesn't it?

Don't waste any time now, throw that Bible at me.


By YashBudini on 6/21/2010 12:37:17 PM , Rating: 2
It's always good to be downrated because of truth. You got Recycler77 who totally dismisses supply and demand driving up prices and instead blames it on "ultra-liberalism", which is 2X concentrated and uses far less water.

In reality there are plenty of places even in the east that are very inexpensive. They share the same traits as other inexpensive areas; lots of nothing, few jobs, little or no industry, people who simply won't leave the area to find real work, where today's cigarettes and beer are long term goals. And there are more expensive places to live outside the ultra liberal areas where work and excellent surroundings play a major role.

Duh!


RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By FITCamaro on 6/17/10, Rating: 0
RE: You're saying like that's a bad thing
By B3an on 6/18/2010 12:05:03 AM , Rating: 1
The US is 10th in the world for living standards.

You can live a better life and not be a lazy selfish yank you know.


By knutjb on 6/20/2010 6:34:29 AM , Rating: 2
Based on whose standards, a UN agency where they don't complain too much about living in the US just about the US.

I have lived in and traveled all over and when it comes to creature comforts and availability of all product categories the US is a much nicer place to be. The US is not perfect by any standard but do read past the headlines.


By YashBudini on 6/20/2010 5:35:53 PM , Rating: 2
"You can live a better life and not be a lazy selfish yank you know. "

Actually no, he doesn't.


By YashBudini on 6/20/2010 5:31:56 PM , Rating: 1
"I don't give a shit. "

So much to be proud of.


!
By smap1 on 6/17/2010 3:19:27 PM , Rating: 1
Only way I am giving up my truck is when you pry the keys from my cold dead hands.

I am not a five foot 4 inch tall Japanese woman, I do not feel comfortable in a Prius or Civic.

I also do not feel comfortable taking 15s to get to speed on the highway.

And I am not spending thousands of dollars on a vehicle I am not comfortable in!




RE: !
By Exodite on 6/17/2010 4:39:35 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Only way I am giving up my truck is when you pry the keys from my cold dead hands.

I think the point of the whole climate angle is that scenario is likely to occur by your own hand. *shrug*

Noone is out to ban large vehicles anyway, they do have legitimate uses. They're just suggesting that consumers should pay for cleaning up after themselves, whether that relates to personal transportation or whatever other product or service we make use of.


RE: !
By Spuke on 6/17/2010 5:00:24 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
They're just suggesting that consumers should pay for cleaning up after themselves, whether that relates to personal transportation or whatever other product or service we make use of.
I don't know where you're from but in the US we pay gas taxes. People with less fuel efficient vehicles pay more in taxes. The less the fuel efficiency, the more the tax.


RE: !
By Reclaimer77 on 6/17/2010 6:12:05 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
Noone is out to ban large vehicles anyway


And they wont have to. They will just impose European style taxes and fines and ratchet them up until you will have no choice BUT to buy a small shit-box.


Convuluted issue
By knutjb on 6/17/2010 11:36:37 AM , Rating: 2
This a far more complex issue than simply pointing a finger at one thing, CO2. The GW Climate Change ideology is based on poorly done science and lacks credibility. Sure in the lab they get certain results but it doesn't translate. The first link goes to http://green.autoblog.com/2010/06/16/u-s-is-sadly-... Autoblog Green we obsessively cover the green scene... I'm sure there is no bias what so ever.

quote:
Small Cars Emit More Carbon Dioxide Than SUVs
http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/a/au... That was from another link in the article.

The US infrastructure is set up differently than Europe or Japan. Contrary to the uninformed, diesel demands in the US are nothing like that in Europe. Trains, planes, and over road trucks consume nearly all of US diesel with trains being the main user. This makes wide spread consumer use impractical due to financial reasons.

Unfortunately we in the US are being forced by far left forces to change our system of government to a European style Socialism and it doesn't work. When the government regulates that's OK and how it is supposed to work. But when Socialism's Central Planning cranks up, like what is happening with the EPA, and imposes its beliefs through large nameless bureaucracy. There is then no recourse for when they get it wrong. Right now CO2 is being blamed for all environmental issues when the evidence doesn't support those assertions but the EPA political appointees march on...




RE: Convuluted issue
By gixser on 6/17/2010 3:03:30 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Small Cars Emit More Carbon Dioxide Than SUVs Small Cars Emit More Carbon Dioxide Than SUVs
http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/a/au... That was from another link in the article.

Why do you quote that and not the relevant info?

Here's the relevant info to go with the above quote:

Small Cars Emit More Carbon Dioxide Than SUVs
The study by Environmental Defense found some other surprising facts:

Despite the proliferation of SUVs, small cars such as compacts and subcompacts still account for 25 percent (77 million metric tons) of carbon dioxide emissions on the road. The reason is simple: small cars were the top-sellers for a long time, and cars tend to stay on the road for many years.

Although SUVs currently trail small cars as sources of carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming (67 million metric tons or 21 percent of all U.S. auto emissions), they will soon be in first place and will remain a leading cause of global warming on U.S. roads for many years.

The average new car, led by personal trucks, emits more carbon dioxide than many older cars still in use, so the idea of simply getting rid of older cars to reduce on-road emissions won’t solve the problem.


RE: Convuluted issue
By Spuke on 6/17/2010 3:39:19 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
The average new car, led by personal trucks, emits more carbon dioxide than many older cars still in use
Need a link to a reputable, peer reviewed website on that. New cars are cleaner than old. Not the reverse. I think you have it mixed up BUT if you have anything the proves otherwise (no crackpot sites thank you) I'll accept it.


RE: Convuluted issue
By knutjb on 6/17/2010 3:55:36 PM , Rating: 2
Its from the links contained within the article. Look for the blue words and click.


In other news
By Zerovoltage on 6/17/2010 12:25:29 PM , Rating: 5
In other news plants thanked U.S. for allowing them to breathe and began talks of reclassifying oxygen as a pollutant.




RE: In other news
By IcePickFreak on 6/17/2010 2:39:29 PM , Rating: 2
There is trouble in the forest,
And the creatures all have fled,
As the maples scream "Oppression!"
And the oaks just shake their heads


China and India
By BernardP on 6/17/2010 2:39:55 PM , Rating: 2
...and with their enormous populations, China and India are the top CO2 emitters from human breathing.

...Must find a way to cap-and-trade that...




RE: China and India
By AssBall on 6/17/2010 2:55:17 PM , Rating: 2
Don't forget farting!


By marvdmartian on 6/17/2010 10:36:27 AM , Rating: 2
We're #1!! We're #1!! We're #1!! yeah!!!!! ;)




Congratulations!!!
By AEvangel on 6/17/2010 3:07:09 PM , Rating: 2
Hey, At least were first in something .....Way to go USA!!!




EU hybrids
By zodiacfml on 6/17/2010 11:00:32 PM , Rating: 2
why would they bother with Hybrids if diesel and downsizing were long been the norm.

when I was young, I thought their small cars for huge people was funny.




Someone has to be!
By rsmech on 6/22/2010 2:20:45 AM , Rating: 2
If it wasn't us it would be someone else. But cars per capita may not play any part of this. If it bothers you give up your car, if you have good for you. You do as you believe instead of making others do as you believe.




not hybrids, just more efficient engines
By alu on 6/17/2010 10:00:23 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
...American consumers have been significantly more inclined to adopt hybrid technology than the Europeans," said Mitchell. "Hybrids have 2.3 percent market share in the U.S. while in Europe it is still only 0.5 percent. Not surprisingly, Japan leads the way with 10.1 percent of market share going to hybrids." The U.S. may be struggling to keep up with Europe and Japan, but the country has improved since last year. From 2009 to 2010, America's average emissions went down by 1.0 g/km. Europe fared better dropping 4.3 g/km...


Don't these (apparently contradicting) phrases mean that hybrids are not a solution for lower emissions?




"I'm an Internet expert too. It's all right to wire the industrial zone only, but there are many problems if other regions of the North are wired." -- North Korean Supreme Commander Kim Jong-il











botimage
Copyright 2012 DailyTech LLC. - RSS Feed | Advertise | About Us | Ethics | FAQ | Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information | Kristopher Kubicki