Car Reviews

Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The U.S. federal government is proposing new regulations that would require American vehicle manufacturers to produce cars that would have an average 56.2 miles per gallon by 2025. That would mean fuel efficiency would go up almost 5 percent yearly from 2017 to 2025.

The higher benchmark would place U.S.-made vehicle’s fuel efficiency on par with cars in Europe, Japan and China. While the higher standards would save motorists money and vehicle manufacturers admit the goal is technically achievable, they warned that the higher standards would cost a lot of money to develop.

The car makers also expressed doubt if motorists would prefer smaller and lighter cars to achieve better fuel efficiency. Americans love to travel in larger heavy vehicles capable of carryubg cargo such as child car seats and skis.

Washington is expected to release the proposal for new fuel efficiency standards by September and complete legislation in early 2012 after holding public hearings.

In turn, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers asked the U.S. government for a gradual phase in of the higher standards, new credits for using certain technology and fuels, and a review period that may result in lower targets if the venture turns out to be too costly.

Gloria Bergquist, vice president of public affairs of the AAM, added that the car manufacturers also want assurance that Washington will help build charging stations for electric and plug-in vehicles, which would also be pushed to help achieve the higher fuel standards.

However, Washington officials clarified that the 56.2 mpg is not a final figure and could still change. The current U.S. standard is lenient compared to other nations and lags by about 10 mpg. By 2020, Europe is expected to hike the continent’s fuel efficiency standard to 60 mpg.

The car makers are supported by some congressmen and governors. One Democratic governor even wrote a top Obama official to warn that the proposed fuel efficient vehicles could be costlier. This could lead car owners to hold on to their larger but less efficient models, which could in turn put jobs in the vehicle manufacturing industry at risk.

The current U.S. standards targets to reduce the country’s yearly greenhouse gas emissions by 307 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent and cut oil consumption by 1.8 million barrels a day by 2030.

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