In a previous question, I asked if we should have a European-style gas tax in the USA:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArRiAjsfKdFhNBKHprnG8r7ty6IX?qid=20070809144857AAwq50U
A later question basically asked "what are you, nuts?":
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070813132336AAsb5L2&r=w#RsR4WTC1UGLXAOZlOfd26Pr22G__DAD6hVJeJW5TpX.ayPFJ4ZHX
But in researching my answer, I discovered that "Hybrids currently account for 1 percent of new car sales in the United States" even though "high gas prices and generous tax credits now offset the high sales prices of some hybrids, assuming owners keep their hybrids for a few years"
http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/08/22/bc.autos.hybrids.reut/index.html
It's not just that hybrids are incredibly unpopular in the US, but there are tons of small car models available in places like Europe that are not available in the USA.
My conclusion is that Americans don't demand fuel efficient cars because of low gas prices.
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