Though the rule has yet to be finalized, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA just proposed new fuel economy standards that would dramatically raise the fuel economy for new vehicles by 2032.
The NHTSA asserts the new fuel economy standards will “strengthen energy security” and “save Americans hundreds of dollars at the gas pump,” with estimated total benefits to U.S. drivers of $18 billion.
The new fuel economy standard calls for fuel efficiency to rise by 2 percent annually for passenger vehicles and 4 percent for trucks starting in 2027. The potential ending average fleet fuel economy by the time the standard reaches a new equilibrium in 2032 is 58 miles per gallon (mpg).
The proposal advances even stronger fuel economy increases for commercial vans and pickup trucks. Starting in 2030 the NHTSA suggests fuel efficiency should increase 10 percent every year, with the latest round of increases ending in 2035. The NHTSA says the new proposed standards would reduce Americans’ fuel spending by $50 billion, cut gas use by 88 billion gallons by mid-century, and slash carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions by 900 million tons.
The NHTSA’s latest fuel economy standards build atop previous changes instituted by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) at the behest of U.S. President Joe Biden. Biden issued an executive order in April 2022 to which the NHTSA responded with new standards calling for makers of passenger cars and light trucks to boost fuel efficiency.
The new fuel economy standards called for an 8 percent yearly increase between the 2024 and 2025 model years and a 10 percent increase in 2026. This raised NHTSA fuel economy to 49 mpg by 2026, which alone was expected to cut fuel consumption by 200 billion gallons through 2050.
Notably, the NHTSA standards do not have the force of law, and are instead meant to provide suggested guidelines to automakers. The fuel economy proposal also matches up to proposed EPA rules, which if adopted would have legally binding effects.
The EPA proposed very strict emissions standards in April, intended not so much to prompt improvements in ICE fuel economy as to hasten the adoption of EVs. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation lobby group said the emissions guidelines appear counterproductive since they will push automakers toward using limited resources to develop improved ICE vehicles rather than focusing on EVs.
Meanwhile, GM has fully developed its GM Ultium batteries, electric GM Ultium Drive motors and its highly scalable BEV3 platform as a springboard for rapidly increasing its available EVs.
The General plans to introduce 30 new electric vehicles globally by 2025, recently claiming it will have EVs in one third of automotive segments by that year. The segments in question are the most popular, accounting for 70 percent of vehicle sales each year.
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Comments
Ah yes, you can’t have a V8 sports car or truck. Although, elected officials can take their private jet anywhere they feel. Don’t worry tho, we care about the “environment”.
This is absolutely nonsense.
Because you don’t agree with my comment doesn’t mean it’s false information.
Nice try lil bro.
We get close to 30 MPG with our 2022 Diesel Suburban driving to Florida and back from Michigan. I am happy with those stats 🙂
58 MPG…I guess the government doesn’t care about the laws of physics.
Time to clean house in Washingto, D.C.!
Yes, excellent point, but how can we be even reasonably sure the people we put in are any more honest and real than the yahoo’s we have in office now? They are all so impressed with themselves that they forget “us” and why we put them there, all they really concentrate on is the next election.
There are two choices to reduce hydrocarbon usage, either push or pull. Judging by the comments here most are resistant to the push method. The other alternative is to make hydrocarbon fuels more expensive. Start raising the per gallon tax on fuel yearly and let the consumer decide when they want to switch to an alternative form of propulsion. Either way, in about 10 years you should see a significant shift.
And why should anyone have the authority to do either thing?
This question reflects a lack of understanding of how a society functions. Perhaps a civics course may be beneficial.
Or…just don’t reduce hydrocarbon usage and allow society to continue functioning. But you already fell for that one hook, line, and sinker. When they have you living in a tent and eating bugs, remember this conversation.
Don’t let ignorance or propaganda influence your opinion.
If you have anything constructive to add to address this article, please do share it.
Oh boy…..I’ll bet you’re going to educate us on “what feels right”…..
Make sure John Kerry sees your comment. He’ll be able to confirm his schtick worked on you.
Great post if you are just thinking about yourself like so many today, but what about those people who just can’t afford a new car any time soon, or need gas to get to work every day, and have to get around like everyone else? Don’t these Americans count anymore?
I like to think long term because I have children who will be around a long time after I’m gone.
As far as affordability, we can thank those who have been kicking this can down the road through indifference, denial, etc. for over 30 years.
Yeah, Trump can serve from oval cell, and very soon many of his buddies will be getting their indictments. The ones that weren’t smart enough to become witnesses for the prosecution.