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'Cash for Clunkers' Plan Hits Skids With Auto Experts

Critics call green scheme misguided, too narrow

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted May 2, 2009 5:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – “Cash for Clunkers,” a congressional effort to remove older, gas-guzzling cars from the road, is gaining traction on Capitol Hill, but remains controversial elsewhere, MSNBC reports. The plan would offer drivers a $4,500 voucher toward new, fuel-efficient cars in exchange for trading in their environmentally unfriendly vehicles. “There are more effective policies out there,” said one expert.

Such schemes have worked in Europe, but critics call the American version, which would apply to fewer than 5% of vehicles, too narrow. “The marginal benefit of participating in the program is less than clear,” one report concluded. The expert suggested lawmakers instead raise fuel economy standards, increase gas taxes, or develop low-carbon alternative fuels.

In this Jan. 17, 2007 file photo, A Ford plug-in hybrid Edge cruises on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Jan. 17, 2007.
In this Jan. 17, 2007 file photo, A Ford plug-in hybrid Edge cruises on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Jan. 17, 2007.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
General Motors sales consultant Mike Bechtolt hangs a banner in front of the GM dealership in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, July 1, 2008.
General Motors sales consultant Mike Bechtolt hangs a banner in front of the GM dealership in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, July 1, 2008.   (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
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Old cars tend to be much more polluting in terms of smog and can be 100 or 1,000 times worse. Emissions have been dramatically reduced in new cars, so this is the area where you'd get the most. - Daniel Sperling,
University of California, Davis

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
nick
May 3, 2009 9:03 AM CDT
I$4,500 is an incentive. $10,000 becomes a giveaway.
Doctor-Zaius
May 3, 2009 2:53 AM CDT
Make it a 10k tax break.
Jojo
May 2, 2009 11:39 AM CDT
SPH - I agree. Even if they handed me a voucher for $5,000 to trade in my older car, I would not be able to afford a new one right now. Pretty sure that a whole lot of people would say the same right now.

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