Why is it that we don't require Detroit to manufacture every car as a hybrid?

Question

Why is it that we don't require Detroit to manufacture every car as a hybrid or with an alternative, clean burning fuel?

Answer 1

Who's going to buy all those cars?  I saw a commercial for one yesterday - they start at 26 grand a pop.  Too rich for my blood.  maybe Al Gore can buy us all one.

Answer 2

Who is "we"?   Do you mean the enviro-wackos and Greenies who think that they should tell everybody how to think and how to live??   Who died and made them King?   You may not know this, but there are people out there who don't want a hybrid, and these people think they are living in America, where they are still free to buy what they please.

Answer 3

It's still peoples right to buy gashogs and support terrorist countries if they want to.   Diesel engines can get better mileage than hybrids.   A new alloy stronger and lighter than titanium has been developed that might make diesel hybrids affordable soon though.

Answer 4

Because we still live in a "free captialism" society.  There are regulations that the government can impose upon their industry (like how many average miles per gallon their production line of cars for a year should achieve or the emission standards for particular states) -- however, there is yet to be a state in the US which demands ONLY zero-emission vehicles - which means there is still a market for standard internal combustion engines.

And like every other industry in the world - to change over to zero emission would be HIGHLY expensive... so industries try to hold off on doing so (fighting it tooth and nail) until they absolutely HAVE TO.

Answer 5

Right after we do that I think I should be able to come to your house and make you buy new appliances if I don't like the ones you have, and make you tear down part of your house if it is to big. I also want to check your entire Carbon print and force you to match Al Gore's print at least.

See what you get into? The best way is to get our media and schools to teach facts. Most people will do what is right. Manufacturers will build what you want. People wasting the environment will be shunned. Tar and feathering can become popular again. We can treat them just like they were smokers.

Answer 6

money and politics.

Answer 7

Exactly who died and put you in charge of the types of cars Detroit or any other place produces.   Car manufacturers produce the cars that they feel people want to buy.  If everyone wanted to buy a hybrid, then that is all they would produce.  But, not everyone wants one of these over priced, underpowered, ugly go carts, so other cars continue to be built.  This is how free markets work, get used to it.

Answer 8

Because we live in a free country.

Answer 9

Watch a fascinating documentary called Who Killed the Electric Car? and that will probably answer most question you have about the auto industry and this topic.  I checked it out of my local library.

The most basic answer (which can be contended) is the auto lobby in government is very rich, and they get as many congressmen as possible in their pockets with very large donations, etc.

Even ethanol isn't as good as it's hailed to be, though.  You can find a great deal of discussion (and argument) online about this.  

My advice (and I realize you didn't ask this): ride a bike whenever possible.  Other resources like Divorce Your Car  or How to Live Well Without Owning a car (books, also from library) might give you food for thought.

Answer 10

you can't require them to build a hybrid car..the market place will decide what they will build

Answer 11

Because we live (so far) in a free society.  How would YOU like to be required to wear a white shirt and red pants every day?