More on those extraordinary ads playing on American TV linking the use of larger vehicles (SUVs) to terrorist financing. The ads can now be viewed online at The Detroit Project (unfortunately in RealPlayer). They make shocking claims, but unless you’re prepared to go and read the associated site after viewing them then make no effort to provide any evidence to back them up.

Fair enough, they’re promoting cleaner, less poluting ‘hybrid’ cars, but is spreading hatred, fear and suspicion the best way to do it?

A couple of interesting facts from the site:

• The Energy Department reported last year [that] U.S. cars and light trucks consumed 10 percent of the annual global oil production. (Chicago Sun-Times 3-20-02)

• SUVs consume over 6 miles per gallon more than a family station wagon. No small difference when you consider that an improvement of just 3 mpg in autos nationwide would save 1 million barrels of oil per day. (AH column 11-14-01)
• Among other things, the auto industry has been able to avoid some of the rules simply by making the vehicles bigger. If you make an SUV big enough, it qualifies for lenient air pollution rules, and if you make it really large, like the larger Suburbans or the Hummers or the Ford Excursions, they’re exempt from fuel economy standards entirely. (Salon 10-24-02)

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