Despite a 75 per cent increase in gas prices this year, Americans have consumed 10 per cent more gasoline in the first half of this year. A ghastly discovery if one is to take note of the ever mounting fuel crisis. Can we blame the consumers for this? Let us try to see who is responsible.



The Big 3– In model year 2006, much to the chagrin of environmentalist they have produced heaviest, fastest and most muscular vehicles. These vehicles weighed 4,142 pounds, which is 1.3 per cent heavier than last year, and 400 pounds beefier than a decade ago. Don’t you think that environmental consciousness is lacking from the Big 3?



While gas-and-electric hybrids demand exceeds the supply, sales of compacts, on the other hand, jumped 8 per cent in the first six months, while sales of large and luxury SUVs tumbled 15 per cent. Can the carmakers blame consumers as buying less compact cars now? Definitely not!



In the face of this crisis, Ford still made plans to back out of hybrids and go for ethanol, supplies of which are still rare.



We had a good thing in Prius before the tax cuts were halved. Nevertheless, even that was reduced to half its value due the competition brewing from other hybrid makers with Toyota. Who can you and I blame now...definitely not the consumers but the lack of environmental concern in our carmakers.



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