Congress sends bill raising fuel efficiency standards to Bush, Congress passes bill raising auto fuel efficiency standards to 35 mpg Options

[GriffGirl]

Okay, so on a more intellegent note in hopes of redeeming myself from participating in the debachery that was the SUV debate from hell thread, I saw this on CNN.com today. Any opinions?


Congress sends bill raising fuel efficiency standards to Bush


It's really better to read the whole article, but here's a brief synopsis (quoted from the article):

• President Bush will sign bill on Wednesday, White House says
• Congress passes bill raising auto fuel efficiency standards
• Increase to fleet average of 35 miles per gallon is first in 32 years
• Legislation lacks higher taxes on oil companies sought by Democrats

Democrats said the fuel economy requirements eventually -- when the fleet of gas-miser vehicles are widely on the road -- will save motorists $700 to $1,000 a year in fuel costs. They maintain the overall bill, including more ethanol use and various efficiency requirements and incentives, will reduce U.S. oil demand by 4 million barrels a day by 2030, more than twice the daily imports from the volatile Persian Gulf.

The automakers have repeatedly fought an increase in the federal fuel standard, known as CAFE, maintaining it would limit the range of vehicles consumers will have available in showrooms and threaten auto industry jobs. Bush also has argued against an arbitrary, numerical increase in the fuel efficiency requirement, preferring instead legislation to streamline the federal requirements and market incentives to get rid of gas guzzling vehicles.

[BloodyStupidDave...]

Doesn't seem too hard to achieve. A 40% performance improvement over 30 years doesn't sound too unreasonable. Then take in mind that the industry actually has until 2020 to meet the standard.

As it is an average, as long as more fuel-efficient small cars are offered and sell, the manufacturers will be be most of the way to meeting the standard. Also consider that the manufacturers already have such cars offered to the European market.

It is unclear if vehicles powered by hydrogen, electricity etc. will be included in the average. If so, that again will make it easier for manufacturers to meet the new standard.

Obviously people are putting the climate change badge on this announcement but even without climate change it seems to make sense to drive greater efficiency (just as we do with electrical efficiency of white goods, or light bulbs).