As Bernard Shaw had prophesied, “Virtue is insufficient temptation.”3 For many, the attraction of green credentials paled in the face of an extra 100 horsepower or a more luxurious ride that one could affordably indulge in. Fuel-efficient subcompacts were replaced by bigger and more powerful sedans. Minivans made way for heavier SUVs. Since trucks and SUVs were governed by different standards than cars, their renewed popularity contributed to lowering the fuel efficiency of the total fleet.
