Declaring Oil Independence

It is time to face facts: 60 percent of the oil consumed in the United States is imported. That dependence is expected to be 75 percent in the next few decades. The United States sends about $350,000 every minute to other countries just to feed our oil habit. Last year, petroleum imports represented one-quarter of our total trade deficit.

It is time for a revolution — a declaration of independence from one of the biggest causes of our oil consumption: gas-guzzling vehicles. With gas prices well above $2 per gallon throughout the country, and the possibility of $3 per gallon on the horizon, everyone will benefit from breaking away from gas guzzling.

For every driver on the road, there are some easy steps to help: properly inflate tires, do not drive aggressively and keep up with regular maintenance. But to declare true oil independence, everyone needs to contribute, including automakers and our government. Automakers need to incorporate fuel-saving technologies into every vehicle they sell. If automakers fail in this regard (as they have so far), a government of the people, by the people and for the people must step up and legislate change.

A recent Yale survey found that nine out of 10 people think the auto industry should be required to manufacture cars that get better gas mileage. Consumers want real choices when they step into the showroom, not the “can’t do” attitude most in the industry show today.

Most of today’s automakers are too stingy with currently available technologies such as efficient engines and transmissions; high-strength steel and aluminum; improved aerodynamics; and hybrid gasoline/electric systems. If car companies take a “can do” approach and put these components into all new cars and trucks, consumers would have fuel-efficient vehicles that safely carry the entire family and have great performance. For example, a team of engineers at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) created a blueprint for a better sport utility vehicle (SUV), the UCS Guardian. With the size and acceleration of a Ford Explorer SUV, the Guardian could reach about 28 miles per gallon (about 31 percent better than the Ford Explorer) for only $600 in extra technology. But examples such as this will only happen if the U.S. government holds automakers to a higher standard. At today’s gas prices, the Guardian’s added fuel efficiency would pay for the extra cost in a little more than a year. With a few more improvements, we think the Guardian’s fuel economy could be more than 35 mpg.