Photographed in Lisbon, the 8 hp Moroccan-built Citroën Ami:
“Biden pulls back on tightened car and truck fuel standards” (Politico):
The Biden administration on Friday backed off its proposal for a dramatic rise in fuel economy requirements for SUVs and pickup trucks, in yet another move that risks deflating the climate activists whose enthusiasm could hold the key to the president’s reelection. … NHTSA’s final rule, Reg. 2127-AM55, maintains the proposal’s requirement that passenger cars make 2 percent annual improvements for model years 2027 through 2031. Passenger cars will reach an average of 65 mpg in model year 2031, up from the current average of 48.7 mpg, according to NHTSA. (The non-plug-in version of Toyota’s Prius, one of the most fuel-efficient hybrids on the road, gets 57 mpg, according to federal regulators.)
I’m thinking that the above Citroën will be part of the solution for our 65 mpg cars.
Separately, Joe Biden says that climate change is an existential threat to humanity and that we’re experiencing a “climate crisis”, but apparently things aren’t so bad that we need to reduce fuel consumption by SUVs and pickup trucks.
“ the climate activists whose enthusiasm could hold the key to the president’s reelection”
This is the reporter saying something they wish was true because they want to say something bad about the decision because they personally disagree with it but aren’t (at politico) supposed to openly promote their ideology.
Who are climate activists going to vote for instead of Biden? Even RFK Jr has called the focus on climate change “a huge tactical error” for the environmental movement and added that “ This crisis is being used as a pretext for clamping down totalitarian controls the same way that the Covid crisis was.” All via https://www.nytimes.com/article/rfk-jr-issues-abortion-immigration.html
Time for Greenspun to do the pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. Portugal was an unusual choice for an ex patriot. Thailand was the ex patriot destination years ago. Then Italy attracted a lot of them with $1 beater houses.
I remember well the original Citroen Ami. The mileage of that car in the early 70s was not that far below Biden’s requirements. As Asterix once said, “Il š’arrête pas le progrès!”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Ami
President Biden, the car of the future was already in production before most US citizens were born. 80 mpg! I have driven that car for miles and miles, I mean kilometers and kilometers. Excellent sunroof, you can take the seats out… the cooling is provided by a vent with a mosquito net just below the windshield (operated manually). It is also a fantastic car to drive in the snow.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_2CV
“In fuel economy, the car would use no more than 3 L/100 km (95 mpg‑imp; 80 mpg‑US).”
The Citroen 2CV in snow!
Actually getting the new Ami as a second car. In reality it will be the car used most often in terms of days on the road if not kilometers. Should have enough range to charge once a week, maybe twice. All it needs to carry is one person and a laptop bag to/from work.