DOT, EPA Enact New Auto Fuel Efficiency Standards
The heads of the Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency signed final rules Thursday requiring 2016 model-year vehicles to meet fuel efficiency targets of 35.5 miles per gallon combined for cars and light trucks.
That is an increase of nearly 10 mpg over current standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Associated Press reported.
When the rule was first proposed in September, DOT and EPA said they were examining standards for heavy trucks to determine the appropriate test procedures and methodologies for measuring their fuel efficiency.
Auto companies will have different fuel-efficiency targets based on their mix of vehicles, AP reported. Those that build more small cars will have a higher target than those that build a broad range of cars and trucks.
President Obama, who said Wednesday his administration also was proposing more offshore oil drilling as part of an energy plan, said the requirements will save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the life of the program, which will cover 2012-16 model years, AP reported. (Click here for previous coverage.)
By Transport Topics
