this post was submitted on 28 May 2024
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Degrowth

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[–] [email protected] 33 points 5 months ago (2 children)

The US has to fix the fuel efficiency laws so that small trucks don't have huge environmental fees associated with them. So many contractors and others who need a truck but don't want a modern behemoth would benefit.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

You mean like a Kei Truck?

I think they're so cute. Like they are out of a Lightning McQueen manga.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I'd totally drive a Kei truck, I bet the fuel economy is great too. The big appeal for a light truck for me though is putting a cap on the back and keeping tools equipment back there, or going camping in it. Would make a decent van life experience in a pinch too. I used to have a Mazda B2000 like in the picture back in the 90s, easy to keep running and decent with gas, nothing but happy memories with it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

I bet the fuel economy is great too.

IIRC they can get like 40mpg. Which isn't great in comparison to some cars, but for a truck it's pretty fuckin good.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

YES PLEASE. You can even make it electric. I just want a small truck with a full size bed. I don't need all the other shit these overpriced monstrosities come with.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 months ago (1 children)

But they're essentially illegal. CAFE standards are based on vehicle footprint since the late 2000s (you know - when they suddenly quit making small trucks). As the standards get stricter they just make trucks bigger to keep from failing to meet CAFE.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Yes, that's why I replied to a comment about the laws needing to change.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Though the benefit of the law is that the standard engine on the Ford Maverick is the hybrid, since having the ICE as the standard wouldn't meet CAFE.

If the Maverick had been possible to obtain when my Colorado died last summer it's definitely what I would have bought.

Instead I got an NV200 mini cargo van, and I'm pretty happy with it. Though the smash cargo vans just all got discontinued by all the manufacturers too because of CAFE.