19 May 2009
President Obama Seeks New Fuel Efficiency Standards
Washington — New federal rules proposed May 19 would increase national fuel efficiency standards for vehicles sold in the United States. “We have set in motion a national policy aimed at both increasing gas mileage and decreasing greenhouse gas pollution for all new trucks and cars sold in the United States of America,” President Obama said at the White House.
“The goal is to set one national standard that will rapidly increase fuel efficiency, without compromising safety, by an average of 5 percent each year between 2012 and 2016,” Obama said.
The new rules would require vehicles’ average fuel economy standards to be 35.5 miles per gallon (15.09 kilometers per liter) in 2016 — 39 miles per gallon on average for cars (16.58 kilometers per liter) and 30 miles per gallon (12.75 kilometers per liter) on average for trucks. In 2009 vehicle models, the average fuel efficiency is 25 miles per gallon (10.63 kilometers per liter.)
Over the five years (car model year 2012 through car model year 2016) that these rules would govern, approximately 1.8 billion barrels of oil would be saved, and greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 900 million metric tons, according to the White House.
President Obama’s proposal, which like other federal regulations will have to be formally drafted, proposed, reviewed and open to the public for comment, would provide a joint set of standards issued by the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In formulating these regulations, the Obama administration worked with federal agencies and representatives of the automotive industry. Ten car companies and the UAW (The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America) are supporting these rules, and representatives from many of these organizations joined President Obama at the White House for the announcement.
The administration also worked closely with state governors, including Arnold Schwarzenegger of California. California has already sought permission from the EPA to set its own emission standards for vehicles sold in the state, and 13 states and the District of Columbia have said they would follow California’s standards. While the EPA is expected to rule on California’s request in the next few weeks, the state’s government has indicated that it is willing to support the new federal standards.
Consumers’ choices should not be limited by the new rules, according to the White House. Each class or size of vehicle will have its own standards so that Americans can continue to purchase any vehicle size.
While the new regulations would initially mean added costs for both car manufacturers and Americans purchasing vehicles, in the long term both would save money, Obama said. With clear guidelines in place, car companies can better plan for future production, he said. Americans may have to pay more for a fuel-efficient vehicle, but would ultimately save more money on gas. The typical driver would save about $2,800 by getting better gas mileage, the president said.
“The fact is everyone wins: Consumers pay less for fuel,” Obama said, and car companies “have new incentives to create the technologies and the jobs that will provide smarter ways to power our vehicles.”
More information about the president’s proposal is available on the White House Web site.
