Diesel fuel prices are hovering about 20 above gasoline on average. It seems that automakers are a bit worried this disparity could have a negative impact on their upcoming diesel-powered cars and trucks. While it's true that Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz are already rolling out new oil-burners in all 50 states with positive results, there remains a concern that there are only so many buyers willing to spend extra to get a more efficient engine and then pay extra to fill it up. At a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on diesel fuel prices today, a spokesperson for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers fell short of suggesting what to do about the situation, choosing instead to highlight the fact that diesel fuel is taxed more than gasoline, whereas in Europe where oil-burners are much more popular, the opposite is true. Reading between the lines a bit, it's not hard to see his point.
The trucking industry spend $113 billion on diesel fuel last year, and the way prices are going up, the industry will shell out $135 billion this year. To help restrain that kind of runaway profit-loss, the American Trucking Associations has released a list of ideas on how the federal government can lower fuel prices.
In addition to asking the government to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, open up currently prohibited areas for drilling, and fund the EPA's SmartWay program, the ATA wants two intriguing things: speed limiters set at 68 mph on all new trucks, and a national speed limit of 65 mph.
While many states limit trucks and autos with trailers to 55 mph in any conditions, there are states that allow truckers to drive faster, and we find it interesting that the trucking industry wants the federal government to police its drivers with a 68-mph limit in order to save fuel. As for the 65-mph national limit -- the press release doesn't make a distinction, so it looks like the industry is proposing that measure for all vehicles on the roads. If that's the case, not only do we not know how that would bring fuel prices down at all, we don't know why they think slowing cars down in the states that have 65+ speed limits would help the price of diesel fuel.
