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Feds To Offer Cash For Your Clunker

Posted by kdawson on from the distressed-assets dept.

coondoggie sends along a NetworkWorld piece that begins, "The government... wants to motivate you to get rid of your clunker of a car for the good of the country (and the moribund car industry). A 'Cash for Clunkers' measure introduced this week by three US Senators, two Democrats and a Republican, would set up a national voucher program to encourage drivers to voluntarily trade in their older, less fuel-efficient car, truck, or SUV for a car that gets better gas mileage. Should the bill pass, the program would pay out a credit of $2,500 to $4,500 for drivers who turn in fuel-inefficient vehicles to be scrapped and purchase a more fuel-efficient vehicle."

2 of 740 comments (clear)

  1. One sixth, not six times by tinrobot · · Score: 5, Informative

    The average is in the range of 10-15%, which is about one sixth the lifetime emissions of the vehicle. Perhaps you got your numbers mixed up.

    Here's a good Google Answers article with lots of references:

    http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=433981

  2. Re:My old car is fine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Before you get all high and mighty, realize that the US and UK use different gallons. And the UK gallon is larger. 1 US gallon is about .8 UK gallons.

    So 34 mpg (US) is a little over 40 mpg (UK).

    Oops, that 15 year old car hit that 40+ mpg efficiency you deem so magical.