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You know gas is expensive to Americans when the local news reports that scooter sales are up significantly, even in Des Moines. Scooters and moped riders who aren’t riding to school are still pretty few and far between in the States, but as we approach $4 a gallon unleaded, more and more people are buying in to these little boogers that often approach 100 mpg.

In the face of the current economic situation, a lot of Americans are actually making positive changes in their lives. Whereas hardly anybody would have been caught dead riding a motor-scooter 5 years ago, opting instead for the typical American behemoth, mindsets are different now. Environmentally friendly activities such as these aren’t as shunned anymore as habits of hemp-growing tree-huggers, but rather they are seen as viable options for a mainstream America that is acknowledging the issue.

I can’t imagine how awesome it would feel to whip into a gas station on a little Vespa for a fill-up. I’d look over at the person next to me filling up their Escalade or Expedition and try to hold back a snicker as their meter rolls past $100. As for me, I’d only have to dig around for a $10 bill to fill a nearly dry tank and be good for around 200 more miles. Oh yeah, I can clearly picture it!

The times are changing, and you can feel the waning status symbol that large, gas-guzzling vehicles have enjoyed for far too long. When Ford is drastically cutting back truck and SUV production, and Honda, Yamaha, and Vespa are enjoying the current economic conditions, our changing ways are clear. News like this is long overdue, but better late than never I guess!

Who says environmentally friendly can’t be fast and fun? Tesla Motors definitely believes you can have both. The San Carlos, CA based company, with the help of Lotus Cars, developed a lean, mean, and green machine which can travel approximately 220 miles between charges. The eerily quiet Roadster accelerates from 0-60 in under 4 seconds and tops out around 135 mph, performance that normally requires a very thirsty internal combustion engine.

This is an awesome thing for the automobile industry. We have long had a certain fascination with fast cars (myself included), and it’s not about to go away anytime soon. I’m glad somebody with an environmentally conscious mindset noticed. I’ve often wondered what would happen to performance cars as we moved away from fossil fuels, but now Tesla has given me hope. Rather than ignoring the huge market for fast cars, Tesla is delivering.

As cool as the Roadster is, Tesla is a still a very new and small company. Only 650 vehicles are being produced for the 2008 model year and there are only a handful of service departments around the country for the $98,000 car. Since Tesla is such an infant company it’s still going to struggle immensely with high barriers to entry into such a tough field. Here’s hoping that they overcome their obstacles and make it big.

I hope other automakers are taking notice, and realize that efficient doesn’t have to be boring and slow. I have one request though. As wasteful as it is, there is something about hearing a supercar’s engine roar that gives me chills. I don’t know if I want a silent sports car. How about an option to artificially give it a mean-sounding growl on command?

On December 18th, congress passed new legislation that commits to fighting our oil addiction.  Among other things, the bill’s main objective is to increase the minimum mileage standard on cars, light trucks, and SUVs from the current 25 mpg to 35 mpg in 2020. This marks the first time since 1975 that this standard has been increased.  It also requires increased efficiency in lighting, appliances, and commercial and government buildings.  Another major point of the bill calls for a 6-fold increase in US ethanol production to over 36 billion gallons a year by 2022.  With these changes, the average US driver will save approximately $700-1000 a year at the pump, according to lawmakers, while reducing our dependence on foreign oil sources.

This new law is not perfect though.  The massive increase in ethanol production will rely on technologies that we currently don’t have.  There is a lot of work left to be done to deliver the inputs needed for ethanol’s growth.  We can’t afford to budget any more corn into ethanol production, so this  increase is going to have to come from other sources, such as switchgrass and algae.  Then there is the issue of how energy efficient producing ethanol is.  If we can’t produce it in an energy-positive way, force feeding the industry for the next 15 years won’t lead us very far. 

Many automakers are opposed to the new standards.  They argue that their offerings could be limited to comply with the regulations, and the industry could suffer for it.  There’s also questions of vehicle safety, as automakers make sacrifices to improve efficiency in any way they can.  Those opposed to the law would rather see incentives for companies that improve the mileage of their cars, rather than an industry-wide mandate.  However, if the price of oil keeps going north, automakers will be forced to improve mileage much faster even than the bill requires.

I understand the points made by the auto industry, but I still think this is a very good move by congress.  Consumers will demand higher mileage vehicles on their own if gas prices are high enough, but this new bill will require it no matter what the gas prices are doing.  I’m not so optimistic about the ethanol portion of this bill, but it’s good to see the US government doing more than paying lip-service to our addiction. 

    Prospective car buyers across the US are in for a little surprise at the car dealership.  The long-used tests to determine a vehicle’s gas mileage are getting a real-world change for 21st century driving in the United States.  The new testing will be more realistic in accounting for American driving characteristics such as higher speeds and acceleration, use of A/C, and the effects of cold weather on driving. 

    The new rankings are definitely more accurate for the average American driver.  A 2007 4-cylinder Toyota Camry drops from 33 highway mpg’s to 30.  Hybrid ratings fare even worse, as the old rankings were very favorable to these cars.  Hybrid ratings are still good, no doubt, but people won’t be disappointed by lofty expectations. 

    Hopefully lower ratings will keep some people away from large SUVs and convince them to purchase a different vehicle.  A 2007 8-cylinder Ford Explorer that would be rated at 20 before is now listed at 18 highway mpg.  It is not a huge difference, but 20 versus 18 will be enough to convince some people to consider other options.

    I think it’s a good deal, but I would like to add one thing.  They should include the old estimates right underneath the new ones with big bold print words that say, “Look, if you drive like a typical American, you will get this crappier mileage listed up here, but if you drive slightly more conservatively, you can get these numbers down here.”  Maybe some more drivers would cut back on their idiotic habits behind the wheel.