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Good point.
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EPA/CARB effectively sets a minimum size for trucks. Rather than having a small light truck that can do the job, you get a Ford F250 hauling a single bale of hay.

But rolling back or adding exemptions for small trucks is political suicide despite the clear environmental benefits.

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This isn’t really true. See: Ford Maverick.

CARB only nudges manufacturers, but the market’s own purchase preferences are doing the big push.

Perhaps the biggest nudge is that gasoline is undertaxed. Consumers will never see a reason to stop driving a 18-25mpg truck when gas being less than $5 a gallon is considered a “high” price. The gas tax hasn’t kept up with inflation.

I don’t love the ford F-150 for being a monster truck, but consider this: with the right configuration it sears 6 adults comfortably, plus having a bed for cargo. Families legitimately replace minivans and other family vehicles with it, plus it can tow and haul being the body on frame truck that it is.

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The fact that this tiny engine couldn't meet emissions standards is bonkers. But that's the law as written right now.
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Where I live the Ford F-250 is not used for falling a single bit of anything other than air. They are in pristine shape and look like they've never been outside the city limits nor off City roads
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My favorite example of this is the big lifted pickups innnnnnnching over slightly bumpy railroad crossings.
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