Summary

Currently the average fuel economy of U.S. cars and light trucks is 21 miles per gallon, below that of most other developed nations, and down from a peak of 22 mpg in 1987.

Hybrid Vehicles have fuel efficiencies of over 50 mpg.

So, should there be tax breaks or tax incentives for those who purchase these vehicles? Should large fleet purchasers, like state agencies, be required to update existing fleets with more fuel efficient vehicles or hybrid vehicles? Should the rest of the country follow California's banner of requiring new cars sold in the state to be more fuel efficient?

Another factor that may spur the big three to actually compete with their Asian counterparts in both fuel efficiency technology and hybrid technology is that current production models of Chinese cars are more fuel efficient than US models. Even if hybrid technology is not widely adopted, incremetal adjustments to elevate fuel economy standards over a period of time might be a way of maintaining market share for American automakers. In addition, repealing the legal loophole that allows light trucks and SUVs to avoid the more rigorous fuel efficieny standards is key to reducing our burgeoning dependence on a limited resource that is, perhaps, past peak.