US Administration finalises new fuel economy standards

ERJ staff report (TB)
 
Washington DC -- The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has put the finishing touches on new vehicle fuel economy standards that call for the first increase since they were established in 1975.

Under the rule - announced March 27 and due to be published this week - fuel economy standards will be increased to 30.3 miles per gallon (mpg) from the current 27.5 mpg for passenger cars. Standards for light trucks would rise to 24.1 mpg from 23.1 mpg, according to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).

The new standards to be issued by the Obama administration apply only to model year 2011 vehicles, differing from the standards offered by the Bush administration, which had also included proposed standards for 2011-2015. The Obama rules for passenger cars are also less than the 31.2 mpg the previous administration had proposed.

However, the AAIA said the Obama administration has left the door open for more stringent standards. It has requested that the DOT undertake a more thorough review of future standards, taking into account a forthcoming report on fuel economy from the National Academy of Sciences that was required by the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, which had also required the more stringent fuel economy rules.

The AAIA said car companies and new car dealers issued statements urging the administration to find ways to bridge state and federal concerns and issue one national fuel economy rule rather than the current patchwork of standards that have been caused by a number of states deciding to follow California's greenhouse gas standards.