Should Vehicles Be More Efficient?

Should Vehicles Be More Efficient?

In this day in age, we are faced with the urgency and realization that one day there may not be enough resources to make our world go round. There are many reasons as to why it is important for us to realize the importance of conservation and efficiency. When it comes to vehicles, they have a major dependency on natural oil, which is taxing the Earth. Vehicles are also one of the biggest causes of pollution. At some point, you have to think that one day it (natural oil) will eventually run out. Then what will we do when we are so reliant on a source that can barely keep up with the demand? As you read on, you will find that the need for car companies to make more efficient vehicles is more important than we may realize.

The necessity to make vehicles more efficient is important in the sense that they are getting too dependent on resources that are not necessarily good for the environment. Not only that, but they are also becoming a strain on the environment and clean air. There is no single answer as to how to make every vehicle efficient, as there are many ways to improve their efficiency and reduce their carbon foot print. It should be a priority for car companies to make vehicles efficient in all aspects of maintenance. It seems as though the biggest and most popular subject in vehicle efficiency is improving the fuel efficiency of all vehicles.

Improving the fuel efficiency in all vehicles would substantially cut down on the pollution in the air and also help people out in many areas as well. There are many groups out there that are pushing to establish certain rules in making cars more efficient in reference to the auto industry. Robbie Diamond, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE), stated, "Improving fuel efficiency standards is an essential component to address the threats posed by the nation's oil dependence (SAFE, 2011)."

In the article about improving fuel economy standards, Diamond continued to elaborate on the importance of improving fuel economy in vehicles. Diamond explains how precarious it is to recognize how cars and trucks use a preponderance amount of our oil to power the economy and are almost entirely dependent on oil (SAFE, 2011). With this said, improving the standards and enforcing the car industry to come up with technology that will make all vehicles fuel efficient is a major priority, if we want to ensure we are conserving and reducing our footprint.

One can only imagine the major changes in our environment if we could come up with a less harmful solution for vehicles on the road. Not only will there be changes in the environment, but it will also put money back in the pockets of consumers, and result in a recovering economy. SAFE (2011) has released an original analysis that estimates the oil savings that would result from tightening fuel economy standards from 2017 to 2025. This standard would incur a 5 percent increase in savings for cars and a 3.5 percent savings for light weight trucks.

There are several choices everyone on any budget can pick from when it comes to buying fuel efficient vehicles. The kicker about fuel efficient vehicles is that they are not very economical when it comes to purchasing them. It seems as though most consumers are only concerned about the dollar signs when it comes to initially purchasing vehicles. If they can purchase a vehicle that cost less than a hybrid as an example, then their incentive is immediate savings on their loan amounts. What consumers do not look at is that in the long run, they will eventually be saving more on fuel economy if they were to pay upfront and go with a hybrid type of vehicle.

More often than not you will find that some consumers will argue the fact that it is more economical to keep their current car then to trade it in for a newer fuel efficient car. Now days, because of the cost of technology in fuel efficient cars, consumers are finding themselves paying more upfront for hybrids than they would non-hybrids. Then tack on the added fuel prices, even if you are saving on gas mileage. In some cases, economically it does not add up to 'go green' and purchase a brand new fuel efficient car. However, environmentally it does add up, whether money is an issue or not.

You will find that some people will actually need some type of incentive to 'go green' and purchase more efficient types of cars. The simple fact that it is saving the environment by having less of a carbon footprint is just not enough for most consumers. When consumers see dollars signs as savings, then they will be more inclined to consider purchasing fuel efficient vehicles. It is safe to say that most consumers are not educated enough to understand the whole concept and purpose of hybrid type vehicles. Most only see hybrids as an option to save on fuel economy. They do not look at the other side of the spectrum and understand that hybrids are more efficient when it comes to the environment, which in retrospect, you cannot put a price on.

The major market for hybrid type vehicles is America and following second is Japan. The market is especially popular in these two countries because of the government tax incentives associated with purchasing hybrid vehicles (Anonymous, 2011). But is it enough to sway more people to purchase fuel efficient vehicles? It seem as though, with fuel prices rising, people are very well looking for alternatives when it comes to purchasing more efficient vehicles. Some would argue that these new efficient vehicles will make a difference on Global Warming, or will they?

Because of the increasing concerns of Global Warming, gas prices, and energy efficiency, efficient vehicles have taken on one of the main priorities in bringing on the significant matter of ensuring that consumers start to consume in a 'greener' manner. More and more consumers are purchasing efficient vehicles, but does Global Warming have any influence on their purchases of efficient vehicles? Many industries have their incentives to going green and efficient. When it comes to purchasing big ticket items such as vehicles, it seems as though