Showing posts with label government regulations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label government regulations. Show all posts

Working Cooperatively to Improve Fuel Efficiency in the US

Many have trouble reconciling the seemingly disparate interests of government, automakers and environmentalists, but as the new rules on US cars and light trucks, as well as long-haul trucks and buses reveals, diverse groups can work together to produce the best results for all stakeholders.

"These standards will help spur economic growth, protect the environment, and strengthen our national security by reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Working together, we are setting the stage for a new generation of clean vehicles.”

President Obama reached the agreement with thirteen major automakers (Ford, GM, Chrysler, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar/Land Rover, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota and Volvo). The United Auto Workers (UAW), and the State of California, were also an integral part of developing this agreement. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) oversaw the viability of the agreement.

“This is another important step toward saving money for drivers, breaking our dependence on imported oil and cleaning up the air we breathe,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “American consumers are calling for cleaner cars that won’t pollute their air or break their budgets at the gas pump, and our innovative American automakers are responding with plans for some of the most fuel efficient vehicles in our history.”

The EPA and NHTSA are developing a joint proposed rulemaking, which will include full details on the proposed program and supporting analyses, including the costs and benefits of the proposal and its effects on the economy, auto manufacturers, and consumers. The agencies plan to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking by the end of September 2011. California plans on adopting its proposed rule in the same time frame as the federal proposal.

The EPA and NHTSA are committed to maintaining a single national framework for vehicle GHG and fuel economy regulation. The agencies will conduct the mid-term evaluation in close coordination with California.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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New Rules for US Cars and Light Trucks

As part of the national vehicle program, the Obama administration is reducing emissions with new fuel efficiency standards. These new rules will require cars and light trucks manufactured in the US to get 54.5 mpg by 2025. According to the Office of the Press Secretary, these standards will require performance equivalent to 163 grams/ mile of CO2 by model year 2025. In addition to lowing emissions these new standards will also drive innovation that will fuel economic growth and create good jobs. These new rules will save consumers $1.7 trillion in gas, which breaks down to $8K per vehicle by 2025.

“This agreement on fuel standards represents the single most important step we’ve ever taken as a nation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said President Obama. “We’ve set an aggressive target and the companies are stepping up to the plate.”

The Obama administration already has an agreement which will raise fuel efficiency to 35.5 between 2012-2016. These programs, combined with the model year 2011 light truck standard will reduce US oil consumption by 12 billion barrels, and by 2025 reduce oil consumption by 2.2 million barrels a day. This represents approximately half of the oil the US imports from OPEC every day.

The standards cut more than 6 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas over the life of the program, that is more than the amount of C02 emitted by the US in 2010.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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New Rules for US Trucks and Buses
Working Cooperatively to Improve Fuel Efficiency in the US
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New Rules for US Trucks and Buses

US industry officials are welcoming new rules for trucks and buses that will cut greenhouse gas emissions and fuel usage. The Obama administration set the nation’s first ever fuel efficiency rules for both heavy-duty trucks and buses. These rules apply to everything from big yellow school busses to tractor trailers.

According to the Washington Post, heavy-duty trucks and busses account for 20 percent of the nation’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. According to Vickie Patton, general counsel for the advocacy group Environmental Defense Fund, the current fleet of US trucks and busses “consumes nearly 2.5 million barrels of oil per day.”

The new rules stipulate that buses and trucks must improve their fuel efficiency by 5 percent each year between 2013 and 2018 (compared to the 2010 baseline). The Obama administration estimates it will save 530 million barrels of oil and a total of $50 billion between 2013 and 2018.

The Washington Post also reports that by 2018, the new rules will improve fuel efficiency of tractor-trailers by 23 percent, heavy duty trucks will become 15 percent more fuel efficient, and busses will increase their fuel efficiency by 10 percent.

According to Patton that the new regulations will “cut climate pollution by 270 million metric tons."

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
New Rules for US Cars and Light Trucks
Working Cooperatively to Improve Fuel Efficiency in the US
US Government Incentives for EVs