Senate: No Interest in Fuel Economy, maybe hybrids

The Senate will not touch fuel economy standards for trucks and SUVs. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 7-15 to defeat an amendment offered by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., that would have raised the fuel economy requirements of sport utility vehicles and light trucks to 27.5 miles a gallon by 2011 (MotorTrend)

Currently, the standard is 21 mpg. Of course this is via the EPA, which means that in real world driving, most SUVs and trucks are achieving far less than EPA standards.

Hybrid critics consistently mention the fact that hybrid cars don't meet EPA estimates. Yet, according to studies most vehicles fall far short of EPA estimates, by as much as 30%. In stop-and-go traffic, hybrids such as the Prius or Escape hybrid, actually come very close to EPA estimates. Most trucks and SUVs, on the other hand, don't come close to their EPA estimates, and in terms of pollution, these vehicles are gross-polluters in such conditions.

Nonetheless, the Senate has stated that it won't touch fuel economy. Still, it is leaning towards tax credits for hybrids and other clean technologies.