Tens of thousands of Americans traded in old cars for more fuel-efficient ones last week to snag a federal "cash for clunkers" rebate that gave new car buyers $3500-$4000 to purchase vehicles with slightly improved gas mileage.

Putting aside my jealousy that I can't score a $4000 check from the government because I choose not to own a car in the first place, it seems like, objectively, the program is just a greenwashed way to help flailing auto companies.

It's great that the government is looking to incentivize improving cars' gas mileage, but the MPG of the new cars people are buying under cash for clunkers is not a significant step forward. The average gas mileage of cars bought under the cash for clunkers program was 28.3 MPG, with subsidized SUVs averaging 21.9 MPG and trucks only 16.3 MPG. Meanwhile, cars in Europe average 36 MPG. If we're going to get serious about climate change and oil consumption, we need to set our bar much higher.

Also, for all the environmental hubbub over the program, analysts are skeptical that the rebates will actually cut oil use. The NY Times "Wheels" blog writes:


According to a survey of car dealerships and 2,200 consumers by CNW Research, the average fuel economy of vehicles traded in last week was 16.3 miles per than the 18 m.p.g. needed to qualify for a government rebate of $3,500.

The relatively small differential suggests that consumers have not been turning in the oldest, dirtiest and least fuel-efficient cars, but instead have been getting rid of their second and third cars, according to Art Spinella, who ran the survey...

The vehicles turned in were driven about 6,000 miles a year, he said. If the new vehicles are driven about 12,000 miles a year, the rough annual average, then consumers will actually use more fuel, not less

Today Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid promised that the Senate will put $2 billion more into the program, but over at Worldchanging they point out that even that massive new car subsidy will result in only "microscopic" impact on U.S. oil consumption — a .05 percent decline.

On the other hand, Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer has been pushing to strengthen a bill that pays Americans for choosing real green transportation: the Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision pays workers $20 a month to ride their bikes to work. It costs only $1 million a year.