alt.energy.renewable

Eeyore wrote:
>
> "R.H. Allen" wrote:
>
>> Broderick Crawford wrote:
>>> How about we stop blocking foreign car imports that get 50+ mpg without
>>> being hybrids. Just plain gas and diesel cars. Don't give me the
>>> 'safety' lie.
>> Can you tell us exactly which regulations prevent those imports or are
>> you just making things up?
>
> US regulations that prevent their import include US bumper/fender laws, US
> lighting laws that ensure US drivers get weaker headlights,

Neither of which has anything to do with fuel economy or emissions.
Strengthening the bumper and changing the headlights doesn't shave 20
mpg off of fuel economy.

> the late adoption of
> clean diesel in the USA

Which, of course, pertains only to diesels.

> and of course US specific emissions regulations.

Which brings me back to the original question: Which of those
regulations prevents cars from getting 50+ mpg in the US? None that I'm
aware of. Cars that get 50+ mpg *have* been sold in the US in the past,
you know.

The issue is not US regulations, but US consumers and/or the perceptions
the automakers -- all of them -- have of US consumers. Changing the
regulations to make it easier to bring European cars into the US doesn't
mean they will actually be brought here.