Texas and Fuel Economy

"Everything is bigger in Texas."

Perhaps it's because I've lived in Texas for the majority of my life that I can't really speak as to whether or not it's actually true. Anyways, in the respect of fuel economy, bigger usually is worse. So what is this phenomenom that we see then?

"Last year, about 55 percent of the 1 million vehicles sold in Texas were light trucks, an industry term that includes including pickups and many SUVs, according to R.L. Polk & Co. in Southfield, Mich., which tracks new vehicle registrations. Nationwide, light truck sales represented about 48 percent of the 10.5 million vehicles sold, the firm said."

http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3260550

According to this article, Texans simply like trucks. Well it makes sense since the entire state has evolved this sub-culture that has arguably kept the truck industry going. While I can't necessarily speak for the entire state, but I'm pretty sure that it's a sign that trucks and SUVs, while looked down upon, are here to stay in some form or another.

The article claims they may go, but that they'll go "kicking and screaming." However it's going to be virtually impossible to be completely rid of large vehicles. There will always be a market for large vehicles for transit purposes, and in order to keep our entire current economic system (which is a mixed economy, which includes capitalism) those same vehicles will be available for purchase in a non-commercial form. That would allow regular people to handle what companies do, allowing for someone with a pickup truck to make some money or start a business.

Aside from that, the commercial market will probably never see the outlawing of large cars, unless they are offered a decent alternative. In fact, that's the case everywhere. No one wants to see anything be completely gone, and the only way they're going to stand for it is if there's a legitimate alternative.