New Standards for Cleaner Air and Less Oil

A new standard in emission and mileage requirements will face automakers in the neare future.  A new plan was announced by President Obama on May 19, combining fuel economy and emissions standards in one unified plan and removing the complexity of having multiple fuel economy standards determined by different states. The new national standard will make cars 30% more efficient than today’s new vehicles. Cars and trucks will meet a comprehensive 35.5-mpg standard by 2016 (cars would be held to a standard of 39 mpg, trucks at 30 mpg), ramping up 5% per year from 2012 to 2016.

This program is the most aggressive new fuel economy standard for automobiles in the U.S. since the 1970s. For the first time it establishes a standard that accounts for tailpipe emissions and fuel economy. While alternative powered vehicles such as hybrid are quickly increasing, they will, almost out of necessity, be a mainstream vehicle in the future. Other technology, such as lighter weight design and cylinder shut-off system will help improved conventional gasoline driven vehicles. There are few cars on the market today that meet the year 2016 standards.  And the vehicles that do are either ‘clean diesels’ or hybrids, in addition to the tiny smart ForTwo, which for many people is not practical.

The new plan is different from before because California traditionally called for higher standards and wanted to enact its own rules for cars sold within its boundaries. This new plan essentially mirrors California’s plan for a national standard, making the building and selling of cars simpler for carmakers, while pleasing the most ardent of environmentalists.
Technically, all manufacturers who sell vehicles in the U.S. must meet the standard, but it will not be easy to get automaker to comply, as it is an expensive and technological challenge.  It is likely this will add about $1,300 to the cost of a new vehicle, but consumers can receive discounts for special vehicles right now.  The new plan only affects the purchase of new vehicles. If you decide to drive your current car after 2016, it will still be completely legal and valid for registration in the U.S.

Even should this new plan go into law, the U.S. will lag behind other countries for fuel economy standards. Right now in Europe, the average is 40 mpg and will be 49 mpg in a few years. Japan is aiming for 47 mpg by 2015. Agreeing on a national program will make things much simpler for automakers, as before there was a chance California would enact higher standards.  As much as this will be a challenger for the automakers, consumers, and officials to make this plan work, it can only be a step in the right direction towards cleaner air and less dependency on foreign oil.