Vice President Al Gore applauded the PNGV achievements at the ceremony unveiling the vehicles. Energy-efficient cars will dramatically reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The automakers used every piece of new technology at their disposal to meet the 2000 deadline for producing an 80 mpg car, and much of that technology is far too expensive to be mass marketed. Ford plans to begin building a hybrid electric family sedan for the mass market in 2003. The other automakers plan to meet the PNGV goal of an 80 mpg vehicle by 2004.
Some environmental groups have trouble understanding the delay.
Meanwhile, Honda and Toyota, neither of which received any of this funding are already selling vehicles that get 70 miles per gallon. The Honda Insight, a two seat hybrid electric gasoline car went on sale across the United States in January. The Toyota Prius, due out across the country this summer, is a five seat hybrid gas electric car that gets more than 60 mpg in highway driving. None of the concept cars offered by American automakers would meet these emissions standards, which are tighter than Tier 2, even if they were ready for market. The Big Three are selling a dirty deal to the American people.