SUMMARY:
SUVs have become
the second fastest
rising source of
greenhouse gas
emissions globally
after power generation,
according to the IEA.
Almost half of all
passenger vehicles
sold in the US are SUVs,
42% of sales in China,
30% in India and
27% in South Africa.
There has been
a sixfold increase
in SUVs worldwide
since 2010,
from 35 million
to 200 million,
They now account for 40%
of new vehicle sales,
according to the International
Energy Agency (IEA).
Manufacturers don't mind
because SUVs tend to have
higher profit margins
than cars.
In Britain SUVs rose
from 21% of sales
in 2014, to 39% last year.
Four of Britain’s
top ten best-selling
vehicles last month
were SUVs:
Nissan Qashqai,
Ford Kuga,
Kia Sportage and
Range Rover Evoque.
SUVs consume about 25%
more fuel per mile than a
medium-sized car because of
additional weight and poorer
aerodynamics.
SUVs were responsible
for all of the growth
in oil demand,
( +3.3 million barrels a day ),
between 2010 and 2018.
Total fuel consumption
from non-SUV
vehicles fell slightly.
DETAILS:
I'm a passenger
car buyer.
Always have been.
Never bought an SUV,
and never will.
SUVs are
for soccer Moms
and old geezers.
SUVs have so many
disadvantages versus
cars of a comparable size:
- Higher cost
- Lower fuel economy
- Slower acceleration
- Longer stopping distances.
- Worse handling
- Less traction in winter
(excluding all wheel drive)
- More likely to roll over
- Valuables can not be
hidden in a locked trunk
That's why I'm amazed
by the percentage of SUVs
on the roads of Michigan.
If the sales trend continued,
SUVs would be responsible
for an additional two million
barrels of oil a day by 2040,
offsetting the savings
from nearly 150 million
electric cars.
The auto industry
plans to offer 300 to 400
electric models by 2025.
They'll mainly be smaller cars.
The EIS's agency’s annual
World Energy Outlook report said:
“Unless there is a major change
in consumer preferences,
the recent boom in SUV sales
could be a major obstacle
towards developing cleaner
car fleets.”