SUVs – A Thing Of The Past in an Eco Friendly World

The Decline of Interest In SUVs

For a few decades, a car dealer relied on healthy commissions from sales of SUVs. In the prosperity of the 80′s and 90′s, few car buyers worried about the cost of owning an SUV. As noticed by Rockville auto body shops, trends come and go. With the increased cost of fuel, these vehicles were the first cost-cutting consideration for families on tight budgets. Hidden beneath budget-consciousness was another more subtle factor in the reduction of sales of SUVs: the growing concern about permanent damage to the environment from oil drilling and depletion of natural resources. Eco-conscious people realized that budgeting could include a wealth of eco-friendly ways to take part in the protection of the environment.

Less IS More For Drivers

SUVs, with their oversized bulky frames and excessive gasoline tanks were not just gas guzzlers. They were pollutants that required costly breakdowns at time of disposal. The cost to dispose of SUVs sitting idly over long periods of time in auto body disposal lots is prohibitive by comparison to smaller vehicles. Once landfills began to close as a result of lack of space, disposal costs increased. Auto manufacturers gradually realized the once popular SUV was losing market share to smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles and hybrids. For SUV lovers, auto manufacturers created “crossovers”, smaller-sized, more fuel-efficient SUVs. Still, the number of hybrids and two-passenger cars began to attract attention. Electric cars powered by batteries were no longer the Edsel of the car manufacturing industry. All of these changes help restore the environmental landscape. More importantly, drivers realize less is more and their family budgets welcome the relief from the high cost of fossil fuel SUVs.

Eco Friendly Without The Bulk

Drivers today find comfort in smaller eco-friendly vehicles that are easier to maneuver and handle on the road without sacrificing personal comfort. Though saving the planet may take second place to reduction in fuel costs for most drivers, many car buyers of fuel-efficient vehicles are well-pleased that they make a valid contribution toward an environmentally sound world for themselves and future generations. It’s easy to see how many gasoline stations will eventually be converted to “refueling” stations for lithium battery-powered cars and other hybrids. Today, even the trucking industry is considering alternatives to diesel. Bio-diesel fuels from soy and corn offer a less costly alternative to diesel fuel. These are potential advantages for a car dealer to consider.

Photo by Justin Scott Campbell