[Graeme]

U.S. Sets Higher Fuel-Efficiency Standards

The Obama administration issued new fuel economy rules on Tuesday that require auto manufacturers to increase the average efficiency of new cars and trucks to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

The new rules, aimed at reducing fuel consumption and cutting greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, will increase pressure on automakers to develop more alternative-fuel vehicles, like electric and plug-in hybrid cars, as well as improve the mileage of their mass-market models by developing better engines and using lighter materials.

Currently, auto companies are working toward achieving a 35.5 mile-per-gallon average by 2016. The new standards for corporate average fuel economy, or CAFE, won support from most automakers last year during negotiations with federal regulators.

The rules for 2025 represent a victory for environmentalists and advocates of fuel conservation. The administration estimates that Americans will reduce oil consumption by 12 billion barrels of oil because of the higher CAFE standards, issued by the Transportation Department.

“These fuel standards represent the single most important step we’ve ever taken to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” President Obama said in a statement.

nytimes

[Pops]

This is great.

If we go into decline this decade we'll be happy the evil gobermnt declared preemptive war on guzzlers.

P.S. I was wrong to post up the bit about Mitt talking about PO in his book, that one must have slipped by the proofer in chief, LOL. Mitt says these rules are "extreme" and will limit people's freedom of choice. Read that
"Our lifestyle is non-negotiable."

Romney not only opposes these new rules, but he would undo existing standards requiring new cars reach an average of 35.5 MPG by 2016, the first improvement the fuel economy standards stalled for two decades. Last fall, Romney said he “would get the EPA out of its effort to manage carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles and trucks.” This spring, Romney blasted fuel economy standards again:
ROMNEY: In my view, the industry got in trouble because the UAW asked for too much, management gave too much and made other mistakes, and the government CAFE [Corporate Average Fuel Economy] standards hurt domestic automakers and provided a benefit to some of the foreign automakers.

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/0 ... ependence/

[Plantagenet]

U.S. Sets Higher Fuel-Efficiency Standards

The Obama administration issued new fuel economy rules on Tuesday that require auto manufacturers to increase the average efficiency of new cars and trucks to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025...

Currently, auto companies are working toward achieving a 35.5 mile-per-gallon average by 2016.

This is a nice sounding promise from Obama timed for the middle of the campaign, but it reminds me of Obama's 2008 campaign promises to "stop the seas from rising" and "cut the deficit in half" and other nice sounding things.

If you look at the DOE's own numbers, the only cars that can currently meet even the 2016 standard are the Honda CR-V and various electric cars and hybrids.

Somehow I doubt that most vehicles sold in the USA after 2015 will be CR-Vs and Toyota Prius hybrids and Volts.

DOE data shows most ICE cars can't meet the 2016 standard

[davep]

It's about time the US caught up with Europe on this sort of thing. There's no technological leap involved. People just need to stop driving pickups to go to work. You don't need to carry a ton of dirt to work. Capiche?

[davep]

If you look at the DOE's own numbers, the only cars that can currently meet even the 2016 standard are the Honda CR-V and various electric cars and hybrids.

And a lot of cars in Europe, e.g. my Citroen C3 1.4 HDI. It's a common rail diesel that'll do 4.5 litres for 100km. And it's six years old. This isn't rocket science.

[Plantagenet]

It's about time the US caught up with Europe on this sort of thing. There's no technological leap involved. People just need to stop driving pickups to go to work. You don't need to carry a ton of dirt to work. Capiche?

The new CAFE standards just announced sound good, but they are actually just a retread for the Obama 2012 campaign of a previous announcement on CAFE made last year. The Obama CAFE standards are actually are so poorly designed that studies show they actually increase the number of people buying pickups. This is because the mileage number the Obama administration just announced only applies to tiny cars----- it doesn't even apply to BIGGER cars, SUVs or to pick-up trucks so people continue buying SUVs and pick-ups.

Here's a statement from VW about the prior announcement for the post-2016 CAFE limits made by the Obama administration:

"Volkswagen responded to the July 29, 2011 CAFE agreement with the following statement: "Volkswagen does not endorse the proposal under discussion. It places an unfairly high burden on passenger cars, while allowing special compliance flexibility for heavier light trucks. Passenger cars would be required to achieve 5% annual improvements, and light trucks 3.5% annual improvements. The largest trucks carry almost no burden for the 2017-2020 timeframe, and are granted numerous ways to mathematically meet targets in the outlying years without significant real-world gains. The proposal encourages manufacturers and customers to shift toward larger, less efficient vehicles, defeating the goal of reduced greenhouse gas emissions."[43]

from Wikipedia

[vision-master]

But Planted......... I get 30+ mpg (highway) with a 12 year old Monte Carlo SS............

[davep]

The proposal encourages manufacturers and customers to shift toward larger, less efficient vehicles, defeating the goal of reduced greenhouse gas emissions

Is there no end to the idiocy (corporate funding) of US Governments?

[Pops]

Plant, I would have thought you might think this was a good move since it gives incentives to nat gas vehicles, your favorite corn-pone.

Skiddin!

I would mess myself if you didn't disagree with Obama saying the sky is blue!

The only thing surprising anymore about your posts is the amount of mental contortion you perform to follow the leader.

Mitch salutes you!

[Plantagenet]

I would mess myself if you didn't disagree with Obama saying the sky is blue!

Is it OK to look at the actual new mileage regulations, or should we all just cheer and ignore the details?

Obama didn't say the sky was blue---Obama said that cars and trucks would all have to get 36.5 mpg starting in 2016, and more than 50 mpg several years later. Unfortunately, this isn't quite true. You see----the Obama administration has structured these standards so they only apply to the smallest of small cars. Bigger cars, SUVS and trucks don't have to meet the same standards. There are mileage requirements for the bigger vehicles, but they are much less stringent.

IMHO its a litle bit dishonest to announce that cars and trucks will have to average 36.5 mpg in 2016, when this standard actually only applies to little cars like the Chevy Volt or the Honda Fit.

[Pops]

This link shows the various standards if anyone is interested.

[vtsnowedin]

A total waste of time and taxpayer money. When crude oil gets scarce enough for gas to cost $10.00 per gallon and up in the USA then people will drive cars that have excellent gas mileage. As it climbs from today's $3.85 up towards $10.00 people will switch over each time the trade cars to something more realistic then the SUV they are driving now. No government rules or mandates needed and none of the money spent on these rules will amount to a pee hole in the snow.

[Lore]

And like cigarettes, when the price reaches a point in which few can afford to drive, they simply won't, but not out of choice.

[seenmostofit]

And like cigarettes, when the price reaches a point in which few can afford to drive, they simply won't, but not out of choice.

Economics is all about choice. The choice of how you spend your money. When cigarettes and gasoline are cheap, we smoke 3 packs a day while cruising the streets in an Excursion. When cigs become $6/pack and gasoline is $4/gal, we ditch the cigs and trade the monster truck in on an econobox.

[vision-master]

Why all the monster trunksan $40,000 SUV's then shorty? ...... You think ppl with means in the UK care what gas costs?

[Graeme]

U.S. Sets Higher Fuel-Efficiency Standards

The Obama administration issued new fuel economy rules on Tuesday that require auto manufacturers to increase the average efficiency of new cars and trucks to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025...

Currently, auto companies are working toward achieving a 35.5 mile-per-gallon average by 2016.

This is a nice sounding promise from Obama timed for the middle of the campaign, but it reminds me of Obama's 2008 campaign promises to "stop the seas from rising" and "cut the deficit in half" and other nice sounding things.

If you look at the DOE's own numbers, the only cars that can currently meet even the 2016 standard are the Honda CR-V and various electric cars and hybrids.

Somehow I doubt that most vehicles sold in the USA after 2015 will be CR-Vs and Toyota Prius hybrids and Volts.

DOE data shows most ICE cars can't meet the 2016 standard

Fuel Efficiency Standard Could Jump-Start Electric Cars

The White House announced last week a significant tightening of future fuel efficiency standards.

Starting with the model year 2025, cars and light trucks will have to get a minimum of 54.5 miles to the gallon (or consume less than 4.3 liters per 100 kilometers.)

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, no currently existing fuel-powered cars come anywhere close to such efficiency. The smart car, for example, with its miniature frame, two seats, cramped luggage space and 1-liter engine, is an efficiency showboat, getting an average combined highway and city rating of 36 mpg (or 6.5L/100 km).

Currently, the only U.S. market-ready cars rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency whose combined efficiency surpasses the ambitious White House goal get at least some of their power from an electrical outlet.

nytimes

[Plantagenet]

Fuel Efficiency Standard Could Jump-Start Electric Cars

It would be nice. But you know the old saying---"fool me once shame on you---fool me twice shame on me"

Obama's already fooled the voters once. He pledged high CAFE standards during the 2008 election, but when obama took office, he REDUCED the existing CAFE standards.

Here we are again...another election and another promise from Obama to raise the auto mileage requirements. But based on his past actions, it seems likely that Obama is lying about this just like he did in 2008. If these standards start to hurt the ICE auto companies, Obama (or some other president) can just lower them again.

[Graeme]

Nobody is perfect but I have more confidence in the Obama ADMINISTRATION.

[Plantagenet]

Nobody is perfect but I have more confidence in the Obama ADMINISTRATION.

Most people people don't like it when politicians lie to them, but you are right---no one is perfect Who knows...maybe Obama will keep some of his campaign promises this time.

I enjoy all your informative posts. THANKS!