Why did everyone buy huge SUV’s in ‘99 when gas was cheap? What are the benefits of carpooling? (see details)
In 1999, oil was $9 a barrell. I see many SUV’s but not with big families in them, usually a single person and on a cell phone too.
Homes are being built bigger and bigger as well, huge houses and the families aren’t that big.
What can be done about wasting energy; is carpooling a good place to start? TY
Everyone bought big SUV’s when gas was cheap because – gas was cheap. And they still are, because it still is. In 1973, when the first gas crisis occurred, The US decided to set CAFE (corporate average fuel somethings) standards. What happened? Trucks were exempted so that businesses could still conduct business. And guess what? Suv’s were declared to be trucks. That’s why half the vehicles in the US are trucks or SUV’s. What did Japan and Europe do after the gas shock? They decided to tax fuel highly, build high-speed trains and subways, etc. That is why they are driving cars, not trucks or suv’s now, and that is why they use about 1/4th as much petroleum per person as we do.
