efficient cars an answer to gas prices
auto industry will save money at the gas pump over the long term, a counterpoint to Republican criticism of his energy policy.
In his weekly radio and online address Saturday, Obama said Detroit automakers are on track to build cars that average nearly 55 miles per gallon by 2025, doubling current mileage standards.
"That means folks will be able to fill up every two weeks instead of every week, saving the typical family more than $8,000 at the pump over time," he said. "That's a big deal, especially as families are yet again feeling the pinch from rising gas prices."
During the past several weeks,hollister outlet, Obama has been eager to appear aggressive in the face of rising gasoline prices even as he reminds audiences that there is no simple, immediate solution that will reverse the current spike in prices.
"What's happening in Detroit will make a difference. But it won't solve everything," Obama said. "There's no silver bullet for avoiding spikes in gas prices every year."
By drawing attention to the auto industry, Obama looked to highlight both his efforts to improve fuel efficiency as well as his role in helping rescue General Motors and Chrysler. He also reiterated his call to end oil and gas company tax breaks and government subsidies that average about $4 billion a year.
Rising oil prices have become a concern at the White House, where Obama aides worry they could hurt an economic recovery that has been improving and also harm the president's re-election prospects.
Oil prices typical rise in the spring, but they have spiked to heights unseen at this this time of year, hastened by increased tensions over Iran's nuclear program. Gasoline prices reached $3.74 a gallon on Friday, a record at this point in the calendar but still shy of the high point of $4.11 hit in July 2008.
In Saturday's Republican address, Rep. Do the math. Unless you are ready to buy a new car, and what I mean by ready is that you have gotten all the value out of your current car and you have the finances to buy a new one, it makes no sense to get rid of your current car for a more fuel efficient one.
Sit down with a piece of paper and calculate the cost savings from, say, your current 25mpg vehicle to a 35mpg model. Then calculate the cost of that new car, likely higher insurance and higher registration, and list those costs against the projected upkeep of your current car. You will NEVER get value buying for MPG unless you were going to buy a new car anyways.
That is why people are holding onto their old cars. Hybrid and electric car owners are often 2nd cars in a household and are bought as much for "feeling good about the environment" then about value.