The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (a.k.a. the Auto Alliance), the automaker lobby group that is undercutting the hybrid market by suing to stop California’s global warming regulations, and is spinning the completely deceptive claim that all of today’s autos are “virtually emission-free” is now peddling in the blogosphere They’re running ads on two of the largest political blogs, The Daily Kos and Talking Points Memo.
Here’s what they have to say for themselves:
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
Hybrids provide quantum improvements
in fuel efficiency and reduced carbon dioxide
emissions while requiring no changes to the
existing gasoline fuel infrastructure.
Well, at least they are now admitting that carbon dioxide is an emission, that’s something. However, rather than catering to interest in vehicles that genuinely reduce oil use and improve our health and the environment, the Auto Alliance has, once again, decided to try and spin a deceptive message to their audience. From their web page, here’s what the Auto Alliance’s version of a hybrid providing “quantum improvements in fuel efficiency” includes:
The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Flywheel Alternator Starter Hybrid System allows uncompromised power and torque while increasing fuel economy by 10 to 12 percent. (bold added)
The diesel-electric hybrid Dodge Ram heavy-duty pickup has an integrated starter-generator powertrain that produces up to 10 percent better fuel efficiency and enhanced performance on the road. (bold added)
10 percent improvement? Quantum leap? For the Sierra and Silverado, that’s a whopping 1-2 mpg increase over standard models. Seems more like a stumble to me.
Honda (not a member of the Alliance), Toyota and Ford already provide 40%, 50% or greater increases in fuel economy with their hybrid models. Having the Auto Alliance foist hollow hybrid vehicles along side the Prius and the Escape Hybrid is yet another attempt to dilute the hybrid field. Seems like they won’t be satisfied until any car that can power a toaster is considered part of the “hybrid revolution.”
They are again attempting to confuse the consumer by lauding marginal technology improvements in a limited number of vehicles as “hybrid” rather than GM and DaimlerChrysler actually making these improvements fleetwide and getting some genuine emissions and oil savings as a result. It is really too bad that Toyota and Ford are letting their technological achievements and investment be downplayed by models that provide none of the promise of hybrids.
If the Auto Alliance really wants to win over the public, they might try something a bit more honest, like dropping off the lawsuit blocking the California greenhouse has regulations on autos. Now that would be “driving innovation.”
Posted by: ScottN
Dear fellow environment-lovers,
I own a 2003 Honda Insight which I bought new in August of '03. I love my car (and in general highly recommend hybrids). However, I am considering selling it as a part of my debt-elimination project, especially since I recently changed jobs and now have a much shorter commute.
However, because I love my car so much I've decided only to sell it if I can recoup the price I paid (about $20,000). This is not completely unreasonable since it only has about 7,000 miles on it and there are still waiting lists for hybrids.
If you're interested, give me a call at 410-493-7026 or email me at [email protected] . I live in Baltimore, Maryland.
Peace!
Karyn Kai Anderson
Posted by: Karyn Anderson | May 17, 2005 at 12:29 PM