Since we last reported on the situation, the two sides have come to an agreement on how to move forward with the scrappage scheme. Both sides have compromised, and a lot of the worst parts (like that American-only clause) have been stripped from the proposal, but it’s still nothing to be happy about.
Having become even more jaded to the idea, I chalk this up to nothing but industry stimulus with a damaging and dangerous veil of greenwashing draped over top of it. Here are the plan specifics:
- Passenger cars: Cars that get under 18 mpg will be eligible for trade-in on new cars getting over 22 mpg. The rebate will be $3,500 unless the mpg differential will be 10 or more, in which case you’ll get a $4,500 rebate.
- Light-duty trucks: Trucks under 18 mpg can be traded in for trucks over 18 mpg. $3,500 for a 2 mpg difference and $4,500 for a 5 mpg difference.
- Large light-duty trucks: Trucks under 15 mpg can be traded in for large trucks that get 1 mpg better mileage and a $3,500 voucher. If you somehow manage to find a truck with 2 mpg better, you get $4,500.
- Work trucks: These trucks have no EPA rating, but if you trade in a pre-2002 vehicle for a new vehicle of the same or smaller class, you’ll get a $3,500 voucher.
Rewarding mediocrity
So here’s the proposal: $3,500 to buy a car with a dismal 22 mpg rating. That’s just terrible. If the government is going to be giving out lots of money, why not at least require some better fuel economy ratings? The same goes for trucks. I realize that large trucks get bad mileage, but there are enough choices out there that we can require more than 1 mpg of difference. Wouldn’t stricter rebate requirements also push automakers to improve so they qualify?
I just don’t get it. It seems like a lot of money for not much improvement in fuel economy. Then when you consider the high environmental cost of producing new cars and large trucks, this deal seems even worse. Why are we encouraging consumers to turn in a 15 mpg truck for a 16 mpg truck? A 2001 panel van for a 2010 panel van? That kind of turnover does nothing but prop up the truck industry that dragged our nation’s fuel economy into the gutter in the first place.
What a terrible waste. I really hope this legislation doesn’t pass, but I doubt there is any hope in stopping it. If people learn how to get better gas mileage with their current car, they could easily outpace a 1, 2 or 4 mpg increase without having to buy a new vehicle.
By Benjamin Jones
EcoModder is a community of fuel economy enthusiasts, dedicated to helping others increase their gas mileage and make green car choices. It is a Premier Partner of SustainLane.
