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The American Energy Consumer







Table 4-9.Average Price Increases on New American Cars from April 1973 to June 1974, by Manufacturer and Type
Manufacturer Full sized Intermediate Compact Subcompact
Average percent increase
American Motors 2.1 5.2 10.7 18.3
Chrysler 10.8 11.8 16.6
Ford 8.3 15.7 20.6 20.6
General Motors 7.8 11.4 11.6 19.7
Average dollar increase
American Motors $ 98 $154 $266 $383
Chrysler 484 388 427
Ford 395 496 492 444
General Motors 421 380 300 422
Source: Automotive News, April 30, 1973, "Retail-Delivered Prices of '73 U.S. Models," pp. 40, 42; April 24, 1974, "Retail-Delivered Prices of '74 U.S. Models," pp. 44, 47; May 27, 1974, "Prices of '74 GM Cars," p. 20; June 3, 1974, "AMC, Chrysler Prices," p. 19, and Ford Motor Company, News Releases, Sept. 8, 1973; December 11, 1973; May 8, 1974.

and subcompacts averaged more than any other models during three price increases between April 1973 and June 1974. Compact and subcompact prices in this period went up 18 to 21 percent compared to increases of from 2 to 10 percent for full sized models (Table 4-9). Price increases that minimize the difference between small and large cars work to offset the otherwise strong consumer incentive to buy energy saving and money saving compacts. This is a good illustration of the basic point made throughout this book—energy conservation is not solely or even chiefly up to consumers: producers are key, and at times the chief decision makers.

Footnotes

Footnote :

a Based on actual speed of each vehicle recorded on tangent sections of main rural highways during off-peak hours.

Footnote :

b Not available.

Footnote :

c Includes taxicabs and motorcycles.

Footnote :

b The gasoline mileage loss from emission controls for 1973 vehicles, compared to uncontrolled (pre-1968) vehicles is 10.1 percent. The amount lost is highly dependent on the type of control systems the manufacturer has chosen to use, and varies by weight. Vehicles of less than 3,500 pounds show an average gain in gasoline mileage of 3 percent (due to carburetor changes made to control emissions), while vehicles of over 3,500 pounds show losses up to 18 percent.

Footnote :

a Excludes unknowns.

Footnote :

b Excludes unknowns and cars not used for long distance travel.

Footnote :

a For all models produced by each company in 1973 and 1974.

Footnote :

b Not applicable.

LOCAL TRAVEL

Over three-fifths of all the miles driven by automobiles in 1969-70 were on trips of less than 30 miles. Over half the miles driven by automobiles were on trips of under 20 miles (Table 4-10). In energy terms this means a large portion of auto use occurs in stop-and-go local traffic that uses the most gasoline per mile and causes the most pollution.

Use of the car for local travel has become important because American cities are so spread out and because public transit is so inadequate in most places. The lack of public transit for most activities has forced people to buy cars. Once people have cars, they tend to use them for everything, even when public transit is available. Car ownership makes suburbs possible. Only