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June 2, 2003 When most people think of SUVs they think of off-road vehicles that run through the forest and camps and hills, just like they should be used. All commericals show these cars off-road. How many are used off-road, just about NONE. SUVs are considered to be light trucks. Because they are, they fit throught the standard 'loophole', one where they can loosen the gas mileage to just about zip. Hummers get less than 10 MPG. SUVs are rarely above 20 MPG. These SUVs can emit 29% - 46% MORE carbon mononxide and up to 175% MORE nitrogen oxides. If this isn't destroying the air, I do not know what is. Now on to gas mileage. The car standard is 27.5, while the light truck standard, unfortunately also SUVs, is 20.7. Most SUVs are not even close to that. They cannot even hit 20 MPG while on the highway. Plain and simple. Why are vehicles made SO poorly that they cannot get about 20 MPG? We have hybrid hydrogen cars and cars that can get 70 MPG on the highway and we cannot make an SUV get more than 20 MPG. That will always astound me and confuse me to NO end. I will make this so simple to all you out there who want to help the earth. Do not buy an SUV. Do not use an SUV. Unless you plan to haul 7 plus people all the time everywhere, do not even think about it. Even then, mini-vans ABOVE 20 MPG, at least. Did you know that if the light truck standard was raised to the same as cars, or from 20.7 MPG to 27.5 MPG, the United States would save OVER ONE MILLION barrels of oil PER DAY. That is the amount of oil from Iraq and Kuwait COMBINED. I think this makes perfect sense. Fix our vehicles, make our world cleaner, and save money. Switching from a car to a 13 MPG SUV (yes there are some THAT BAD out there) would be like keeping the refridgerator door open for 6 YEARS, or keeping a bathroom light on for 30 YEARS, or keeping a color TV on for 28 YEARS (from the Sierra Club). That is just pure crazy. Save our world from these SUVs which are take over a quarter of the industry and polluting our earth. You have a SUV? Trade it in, trash it, find some way to keep yourself from being part of the problem. Save our world from ourselves and become a cleaner person today! ------------ About the author: Matthew is a high school student who loves politics and life. He has retained a 4.0 GPA throughout his high school career and is currently involved with the Young Democrats at his school. He is also an eCaptain for the Democratic National Committee. Other than politics, Matthew also loves music and plays the piano, organ, and handbells, and also sings in three choirs. Visit his website or email Matthew Stensrud: maths8877@yahoo.com Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
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