Senate committee passes CAFE bill with tyre fuel efficiency provision

Washington DC - The Senate Commerce Committee has passed by voice vote a bill that would require auto makers' car and truck fleets to average 35 mpg (miles / gallon) (around 11.2 km/litre) in fuel economy by 2020.

The first Senate fuel economy bill to make it out of committee since the early 1990s, the legislation also would regulate the fuel economy of medium-duty trucks for the first time and also would require the federal government to make fuel efficiency a priority in buying vehicles for government use.

The bill contains a provision backed by the US-based Rubber Manufacturers Association to establish a national, mandatory tyre fuel efficiency consumer information requirement administered by the US-based National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The RMA supports the measure as a way to forestall nationwide adoption of a California law that requires replacement tyres to be at least as fuel efficient as original equipment tyres. The US Tire Industry Association also supports the national information programme, but the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) claims such a program would only increase the regulatory burden on the tyre industry without enlightening consumers.

The corporate average fuel economy package, including the tyre fuel efficiency measure bill, could go to a vote as early as June, news sources said.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)

Official statement from US Senate Committee