- New federal law will require 2016 model-year vehicles to meet fuel-efficiency targets of 35.5 miles per gallon combined for cars and trucks.
- The action is expected to add about $1,000 to the cost of a new vehicle, according to some industry observers.
- New requirements reflect an increase of nearly 10 mpg over current standards.
WASHINGTON — Tough new fuel economy standards will be signed on Thursday, a move that President Obama said "will reduce our dependence on oil while helping folks spend a little less at the pump." The action is also expected to add about $1,000 to the cost of a new vehicle by 2016, according to some industry observers.
The final rules, which will be signed today by the heads of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency, require 2016 model-year vehicles to meet fuel efficiency targets of 35.5 miles per gallon combined for cars and trucks. That is an increase of nearly 10 mpg over current standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The new standards move up goals set in a 2007 energy law, which required the auto industry to meet a 35-mpg average by 2020.
The new rule "will save 1.8 billion barrels of oil," Obama said in a speech on Wednesday. "And that's like taking 58 million cars off the road for an entire year." Obama said the new rules come "after decades in which we have done little to increase auto efficiency."
The move is expected to kick-start the next generation of fuel-saving gas-electric hybrids and electric cars, which will follow such pioneering vehicles as the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf.
Obama also said that the federal government "is doubling the number of hybrid vehicles in the federal fleet, even as we seek to reduce the number of cars and trucks used by our government overall."
Inside Line says: The feds give automakers a big push toward building more fuel-efficient vehicles and engines — but it does come at a price. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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tbone85 says:
06:47 AM, 04/05/2010
I have no idea what the motivations are behind the changes, nor do I much care. If it makes us less dependent on foreign oil then I applaud it. Anything that spurs us to more quickly adopt environmentally friendly renewable energy produced in the U.S. and providing more employment gets my thumbs up.
piredon says:
07:22 AM, 04/02/2010
I'm pretty sure 35.5 mpg isn't based on the current EPA ratings, but one of the older formulas. 25 or 28 is what is means in real terms...pretty much every car company already averages 30mpg on their cars (not light trucks)for CAFE purchases.
Basically, it's the government trying to look like they are doing more than they actually are. 35.5 CAFE doesn't mean anything close to 35.5 in real world driving. Plus there are all sorts of little loopholes built in for things like flex fuel cars. It's just like most government bills, way more complicated and way less effective than it looks to be on the surface.
http://www.motortrend.com/features/consumer/112_0907_cafe_explained/index.html
Just make it simple: tax gasoline and diesel. Goodness knows, our broke @$$ country needs the tax receipts! Have to pay for healthcare!
shahulx says:
07:02 AM, 04/02/2010
ronyaricarta....
http://www.insideline.com/hyundai/sonata-hybrid/2011/2011-hyundai-sonata-hybrid-2010-new-york-auto-show.html
shahulx says:
06:58 AM, 04/02/2010
It's a companies combined production right? all the cars they make must average 35.1 mpg combined, so if they make 10 F150's that get 20mpg combined then they must make like 35 40 mpg Fusion Hybrids... or something like that right?
Say goodbye to last golden age of petrol powered supercars...bye bye Vipers, ZR-1's, GT's, GTR's, Aston V12's etc etc....
Most companies knew this as they have switched to eco boosts and the like... see how BMW announced the v8 turbo vs the V10 on the new M5
ronyaricarta says:
06:05 PM, 04/01/2010
Hell the new 2011 Hyundai Sonata is almost there now if they were to add an electric motor to the new Sonata and make it a Hybrid you would have a car that puts out 270+ horses that gets 35.5 mpg or they could put a CVT in there as well. Either way I see more technological innovation coming to the auto industry.
cheerful_1 says:
05:33 PM, 04/01/2010
I think in the long run it will work out well for all. It's similar to the 70's when the feds mandated the emissions controls. Yeah it sucked for a while but eventually the car makers got it sorted out. All the enthusiasts cried doom but it really wasn't. (Well, ok it was pretty close for a few years there...) The electrics and hybrids are in their infancy and they will get better with time. Designers will get more and more power out of 4-cyls and better and better economy out of the 6 and 8 cyls. Also, the learning curve is ALOT faster now than it ever used to be.
evilrabbit09 says:
02:27 PM, 04/01/2010
If it were an april fools joke, I would hope that they would at least say that the target mpg was 42.
angry_mushroom says:
02:05 PM, 04/01/2010
@hybris
True. I don't think any car company is even close to 30mpg when combined with trucks. But a fantastic April Fool's joke though.
tenta20 says:
02:05 PM, 04/01/2010
3 things to make this work:
1) People should change their perceptions of modern-day diesels...immediately. Embrace the diesel engine.
2) Downsizing is best. Less V8s (yes, I'm crying as I write this) and more 4-cylinders and V6s.
3) Embrace the lithium-ion batttery and twin-scroll turbocharger.
fortstring says:
02:02 PM, 04/01/2010
For trucks, I'd see something like a turbocharged diesel, perhaps combined with a pair of electric motors, being manufactured in the years to come---in order to meet the new standards while improving on torque figures.