Front Burner The big problem of 'car bloat'
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Feb 28, 2025 David Zipper, a senior fellow at the MIT Mobility Initiative and an expert in urban planning, discusses the alarming trend of 'car bloat' in North America. He explains how SUVs and pickup trucks dominate new car sales, raising safety concerns for pedestrians and other drivers. Zipper highlights the fiscal burden of larger vehicles and contrasts them with Japan's efficient K cars. The conversation sheds light on the emotional and financial implications behind consumer preferences, as well as potential solutions to tackle this growing problem.
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Car Bloat Trends
- North American cars have grown significantly larger due to two trends.
- These trends are the replacement of sedans with larger SUVs and pickups, and the increasing size of even those models.
F-150 Example
- The Ford F-150, a popular vehicle, exemplifies car bloat.
- The 2023 model is 800 pounds heavier and seven inches taller than the 1991 model.
Safety Concerns
- Larger cars pose several safety risks due to increased force in collisions.
- This disproportionately affects occupants of smaller vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, leading to more fatalities.