Gas Taxes and Hybrids

While I am a strong supporter of hyrbid cars, I've always believed that a higher gas tax and higher fuelf efficiency standards, are more effective tools. If you need a new car, I think you should consider a hybrid -- they are good for the planet, and increasingly, they are the ride of choice for all hipsters.

In this recent NYTimes article, the author makes some important points:

• If you replace your Corolla (29 mpg) with a Prius (44-50 mpg), you will save about $250/year, on average.
• Someone deciding between a Cadillac SRX SUV (16 mpg) and a Hummer (11 mpg) will save about $600/year, on average! Small differences add up, when you are burning gas quickly.
  

For people in the second group, a higher gas tax will make the choice of a Cadillac SUV a no-brainer. Between the two groups, it is clearly the second group that you want to influence ASAP.

While hybids are cool, there is no substitute for sound goverment policy. Hopefully the Dems will retake Congress in 2006! We better hurry, Sweden wants to be oil-free within 15 years.