[Vision2020] engine tax

[david sarff]

Paul , and interested others.
The fossil fuel issue is a problem that requires resolution. Thank you for 
your efforts.

In the 80’s Honda started selling a small road bike, the Rebel. It had a 250 
cc engine. The story I heard was that it was introduced in Japan initially 
because motorcycles over 250 cc enjoyed a whopping huge sin tax. The tax 
percentage increased with cc increase.
Sounds reasonable to me.
I suspect in the future our transportation will be controlled through 
registration against  measured carbon output. Much as most states test for 
more immediately toxic emissions at the present time.

Rules are changing. The two stroke engine emission restrictions have just 
recently radically changed engine design. Shindaiwa www.shindaiwa.com/  runs 
a four stroke trimmer engine oiled like a two stroke.

Smaller engines = Less carbon output.

I think we need transportation grids with weight class restrictions. 
Example, in cities remove the passenger limit in the carpool lane and 
introduce a weight limit. Two people in a Suburban will never be more 
efficient than one person in a Civic.

D. Sarff



>Fellow vision2020-ites,
>
>While wandering aimlessly through the internet one day (meaning that I
>don't remember where I came across it), I found out that Japan has an
>engine tax.  The smaller and more fuel-efficient the engine, the smaller
>the tax.  The tax apparently ranges from about $40 to $800 or so
>annually, iirc.  People who own more than one car would presumably be
>taxed on both.  In these days of higher gas prices, global warming, and
>pollution concerns, it seems to me like it could be a good idea for our
>country to adopt.  We could start with lower numbers and add it in to
>the registration cost.  That's presuming, I guess, that the registration
>cost doesn't already include it.  Does anyone know what that amount is
>comprised of?
>
>Any thoughts on this?  Is it a good idea?
>
>Paul
>