New fuel efficiency standards proposed on Earth Day for cars and light trucks in the U.S., will require auto manufacturers to improve their vehicles on a faster schedule than initially set forth in the energy bill signed last December.
The new standard, announced by Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, sets 2015 targets for cars at 35.7 mpg and 28.6 mpg for light trucks. The Department of Transportation said these numbers will lead to fleet-wide fuel economy increasing 4.5% annually until 2015–exceeding the 3.3% jump endorsed by Congress when it adjusted the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) at the end of last year, requiring a collective average of 35 mpg by 2020.
The Bush administration was responsible for accelerating the pace of the standard announced Tuesday, which 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.
"This proposal is going to help us all breathe a little easier by reducing carbon dioxide emissions from tailpipes, cutting fuel consumption and making driving a little more affordable," Peters said.
Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) praised the administration’s decision. "After years of fighting a fuel economy increase, the Bush administration is showing faith in the American auto industry’s ability to reform," Markey said.
The Union of Concerned Scientists said the standard boosts fuel economy for the first three years, but then requires only "meager improvements" for the remaining two.
Jim Kliesch, a senior engineer with UCS’s Clean Vehicles Program, said "The administration should finalize the proposal’s first three years and go back and fix the flawed assumptions that undercut the last two years."
The proposal will be followed by a 60-day public comment period and could be rewritten before it is finalized, however, comments by the auto industry suggest they may not apply pressure to have the standard reduced.
"Congress has set an aggressive, single, nationwide standard and automakers are prepared to meet that challenge," said Dave McCurdy, president of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents General Motors Corp., Toyota Motor Corp., Ford Motor Co. and others.
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