Americans Want Cars to get 60 MPG

According to a survey released on May 16, 2011, a solid majority of Americans want vehicles that are much more fuel efficient. The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) said its survey of 2,000 Americans found strong support for a government mandate of 60 miles a gallon by 2025. As reported in USA Today, “Cars would cost more, but respondents said they'd be willing to pay more as long as the higher purchase costs could be recouped in gas savings in 5 years.”

“Concern about volatile gasoline prices and support for higher standards is driven by the huge and rising bite gas expenditures are taking from household budgets—from less than $2000 in 2009 to more than $3000 this year,” said Mark Cooper, CFA’s research director and energy expert in a press release. “Pain at the pump, along with the country’s oil import dependence, has produced a growing consensus that the federal government should substantially increase fuel economy standards.”

CFA received the data from a poll by Opinion Research Corp, which shows that “62 percent of Americans support a federal mandate requiring automakers to meet a 60 mpg standard by 2025, a proposal the Obama administration is considering,” reports the Detroit News. “The fuel efficiency mandate already is scheduled to rise to 35 mpg by 2016 from 27.5 mpg for cars today.”

Government mandates will push automakers towards greener more fuel efficient vehicles like hybrids and fully electric cars. All the major automakers are already launching hybrid vehicles and fully electric cars are sure to follow. According to the CFA study, the general public appears to welcome the move. "We're talking about changing the trajectory of consumption," Cooper said. "The consumer is ready."

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Consumer Groups Push for a US Vehicle Standard of 60 mpg by 2025

Consumer groups want to see US vehicle fleet standard of 60 mpg by 2025. This point was made at a recent teleconference event held by the Consumer Federation of America, a nonprofit association of nearly 300 consumer groups, and by Consumer Action, which is a network of more than 8,000 community-based organizations.

As reported in the LA Times, Mark Cooper, research director for the Consumer Federation of America cited a May 16, 2011 report (PDF) which indicated that 87% of respondents said they want reduced dependence on oil, 85% said they are fed up about prices, and 75% said they want higher-mileage vehicles.

"Pain at the pump, along with the country's oil-import dependence, has produced a growing consensus that the federal government should substantially increase fuel-economy standards. And among independent technical experts, there is a growing consensus that committed car companies could meet these higher standards," Cooper said.

Click here to sign a petition to make 60 mpg the standard for new vehicles by 2025.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Hyundai's Fuel Efficiency Leadership and Growing Market Share

Since 2008 Hyundai has been the most fuel-efficient manufacturer in the US. Over the last couple of years as some other car companies struggled, Hyundai's market share grew by almost 50 percent.

The EPA 2009 Light-Duty Automotive Technology and Fuel Economy Trends Report indicates that Hyundai had the highest efficiency rating for the 2008 model year at 30.9 mpg. The EPA also indicates that Hyundai is the only automaker in the US to top 30 mpg in 2009.

Hyundai continues to lead in corporate average fuel economy (CAFE). The company currently has a CAFE rating of over 30 mpg and with the help of its global Blue Drive strategy Hyundai plans to reach 35 mpg by 2015 and at least 50 mpg by 2025.

The all new 2011 Hyundai Sonata being built in Alabama is the first mid-size family sedan to offer only 4-cylinder engines. The smaller engine reduces the weight by 130 pounds giving the Sonata a 35 mpg fuel rating. The 200 horsepower Sonata is also leading its competitors in power output thanks to the advanced gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine.

While other automakers are actively resisting efforts to regulate emissions, Hyundai is an advocate of more stringent fuel efficiency requirements.

Hyundai America CEO John Krafcik said, "This is our simple formula for success in the automobile industry, rather than fighting fuel economy regulation, we encourage our Hyundai engineers to deliver more fuel efficiency, faster, accelerating the benefits to our customers, society, and the planet."

Hyundai plans to develop more fuel-efficient vehicle technologies including electric hybrids and plug-in hybrids. This fall, Hyundai will launch the company's first hybrid in the United States. The Sonata Hybrid incorporates an industry-first lithium polymer battery, which is smaller and more efficient.

Other vehicle manufacturers could learn from Hyundai's business philosophy. Its ambitious objectives reduce its environmental impact, align its resources, challenge its team members, and provide added value to its consumers. Hyundai's value driven fuel efficiency strategy focuses on the intelligent application of cost effective technologies.

Hyundai's success proves that there is a large and growing market for well priced, stylish vehicles that deliver industry leading levels of fuel economy. Hyundai's efficiency based leadership is growing its market share and helping to reduce global emissions.
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