On July 29, President Obama announced the next phase in the Administration’s
program to increase fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas pollution for all
new cars and trucks sold in the U.S. Automaker fleets will need to average 54.5
miles per gallon by 2025 — about 2 mpg less than the earlier fuel-economy
target of 56.2 mpg.
Fuel economy standards, often referred to as “CAFE” (corporate average fuel
economy), for new vehicles are already slated to improve from an average of
27.3 mpg today, to 35.5 mpg by 2016.
The 2017-2025 rule is expected to include credits for automakers that
incorporate some of the latest vehicle technology for reducing fuel
consumption, such as engine shut-off during idling and specially designed
louvered front grilles.
One of the biggest reasons for the new standard is to reduce oil de-pendence,
reported The White House. The standards for MY 2011-2025 will reduce oil
consumption by an estimated 2.2 million barrels a day — more than we import
from any country other than Canada.
Some of these advanced technologies are
already on the market, said David
Champion, the senior director of
Consumer Reports’ auto test division. “In our
testing, we’ve already seen highway consumption of 55 mpg in a Toyota Prius
hybrid and 49 mpg in a Volkswagen Golf diesel.”
Several automakers feel the new mpg number is within reach.
Statement from Toyota USA:
“Toyota has embarked on the most aggressive expansion of hybrid, electric and
hydrogen fuel cell cars of any automaker, and we are committed to continuing
our demonstrated environmental leadership. As the rule-making process moves
forward, we look forward to working closely and constructively with the
Administra-tion and other stakeholders to ensure that we realize our shared
environmental goals in the most economically effective and consumer-friendly
ways possible.”
Statement from American Honda:
“Honda has long been a leader in, and advocate for, reducing petroleum
consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Honda embraces this new challenge and
we welcome the competition we will have with other automakers that will result
from these new standards, because it will benefit both our customers and the
health of the planet.
Honda is proud to have actively participated in the Administration's efforts to
extend the single national standards to the 2017-2025 period. In this regard,
we also appreciate the State of California's decision to harmonize its
regulations with the federal initiatives.”
Statement from Volkswagen of America
“The Volkswagen Group is a global leader in fuel efficiency and associated
technologies, and we are committed to the ongoing negotiations with the White
House on reaching maximum achievable fuel economy/GHG reduction standards.
Volkswagen does not endorse the proposal under discussion. It places an
unfairly high burden on passenger cars, while allowing special compliance
flexibility for heavier light trucks. Passenger cars would be required to
achieve 5% annual improvements, and light trucks 3.5% annual improvements. The
largest trucks carry almost no burden for the 2017-2020 timeframe, and are
granted numerous ways to mathematically meet targets in the outlying years
without significant real-world gains.
The proposal encourages manufacturers and customers to shift toward larger,
less efficient vehicles, defeating the goal of reduced greenhouse gas
emissions.
Volkswagen Group clean diesel products are among the most fuel-efficient
vehicles on the road today. Our new mid-size Passat TDI, built here in the U.S.
in Chattanooga, TN, achieves 43 mpg highway and can travel almost 800 miles on
a single tank of fuel. If one-third of the vehicles on the road today were
clean diesel, the U.S. would save 1.4 million barrels of oil a day. Yet there
is no consideration in the current proposal for the positive impact clean
diesels can have on fuel consumption here in the U.S.”
We’d like to hear from you. Do you think that the automakers will have trouble
reaching the 54.5 mpg target within the next 14 years?
How do you think this will affect your work as an automotive technician or shop
owner?
Will working on these vehicles change your commitment to and emphasis on
training?
E-mail your thoughts to me at
mdellavalle@babcox.com.
Sources: Reuters, The White House, Consumer Reports, Toyota, American Honda and
Volkswagen of America.
More Articles in Fuel System