U.S. DOT Chooses Earth Day To Present Long Awaited MPG Standards Plan

U.S. DOT Chooses Earth Day To

Present Long Awaited MPG Standards Plan

The Bush administration used Earth Day last week to present a fleet-wide national corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standard for new cars and trucks of 31.6 mpg by 2015, or about a 4.5 percent annual increase from 2011 to 2015. In 2015, passenger cars will need to achieve 35.7 mpg and trucks will need to reach 28.6 mpg. This sets a more aggressive schedule to achieving the recent energy law that requires new cars and trucks to average 35 mpg by 2020.

Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said the federal plan would reduce fuel consumption –in a way that is consistent nationwide and also doesn’t compromise vehicle safety.” The plan is expected to save nearly 55 billion gallons of oil and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 521 million metric tons over the life of the new vehicles built between 2011-2015. It will add an average cost of $650 per passenger car and $979 per truck by 2015.

NADA quickly applauded the move. –We are especially pleased to see this national approach to fuel economy start to take shape; it should be given a chance to succeed,” said Andrew Koblenz, NADA vice president for legal and regulatory affairs. –The Department of Transportation is clearly working to achieve real and quantifiable fuel economy and environmental gains, while taking into account consumer demand, economic impact, and most importantly, passenger safety.”

NADA intends to file comments addressing specific provisions within the proposal while stressing the importance of the administrationês decision to reject a piecemeal state-by-state effort.

–This stands in stark contrast to the California approach which is untested, fails to look at the impact on the national economy, limits consumer choice and ignores concerns about passenger safety,” Koblenz said.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers released a statement supporting Congressional efforts to establish a national fuel-efficiency standard and pledged the support of automakers. –Congress has set an aggressive, single, nationwide standard, and automakers are prepared to meet that challenge,” explained Alliance President and CEO Dave McCurdy. –This proposal represents an important mile marker on the road to at least 35 miles per gallon by 2020.”