| October 1, 2010 |  |
Federal Agencies Say Automakers Could Hit 60 Miles Per Gallon by 2025
New Standards Could Dramatically Reduce Emissions, Save Consumer Money and Help Break Oil Addiction, Science Group Says
WASHINGTON (October 1, 2010) – The Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency today released an analysis showing the potential range for new fuel efficiency and carbon pollution standards for passenger vehicles through model year 2025. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), the analysis demonstrates automakers can meet a 60 mile per gallon standard, which would spur innovation in the U.S. auto industry, dramatically lower oil consumption and cut global warming pollution.
The new analysis is in the form of a “Notice of Intent,” which is essentially an outline of options for new federal standards. The agencies evaluated cutting fuel use and global warming pollution from new passenger vehicles by as much as 6 percent per year from 2017 to 2025. According to UCS, that would be equivalent to reaching more than 60 miles per gallon and an emissions standard of 143 grams per mile of global warming pollution by 2025. Today’s announcement builds on standards the Obama administration finalized in April, which cover model years 2012 to 2016.
“American taxpayers helped the auto industry get back on its feet. Now it’s time for the auto industry to do its part to curb America’s oil dependence, cut pollution, and help consumers save at the pump,” said Brendan Bell, a Washington Representative for UCS’s Clean Vehicles program. “The auto industry has fifteen years to meet these new standards – that’s plenty of time to use innovation and technology to reach 60 miles per gallon.”
The Notice of Intent also shows that automakers could reach nearly 60 mpg while saving consumers between $5,700 and $7,400 over the life of the vehicle, even after accounting for the cost of new fuel-saving technology. The federal analysis also indicates that the strongest standards analyzed save consumers the most money.
UCS, as part of the Go60MPG coalition, has been urging the agencies to adopt standards of at least 60 miles per gallon by 2025 and no more than 143 grams per mile of heat-trapping gases.
Jim Kliesch, a senior engineer with UCS’s Clean Vehicles Program, said the agencies should aim high as they move forward with the new standards. “Strong standards would mean a hybrid in every garage, an electric car on every block and significantly cleaner conventional cars,” he said. “Lower standards would leave consumers vulnerable to high gas prices and put more money in the hands of oil companies rather than consumers’ pockets. The U.S. auto industry wasn’t ready for the last gas price spike. Now we know they have the tools to fight the next one and save consumers thousands of dollars.”
The Notice of Intent indicated that the issue of how EPA would count emissions from power production for charging electric vehicles would be evaluated in next year’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. “Electric vehicles will be an important technology moving forward,” Kliesch said, “but if the new standards don’t count the pollution from electricity, automakers could meet the standards on paper without boosting fuel efficiency throughout their fleet.”
EPA and DOT worked closely with officials from California to develop a technical report on which the outline of the standards are based. California retains its ability to set carbon pollution standards for vehicles under the Clean Air Act. Patricia Monahan, the director of UCS's California office and deputy director of its Clean Vehicles Program, said that continued cooperation is essential for successful national standards. “By working together to set strong standards, the Obama administration and the states can deliver clean cars and fuel savings for consumers all across the country.”
Resources:
According to an analysis UCS conducted with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC),a 60 miles per gallon standard is achievable. In 2025, automakers could meet the standards with a new car fleet comprised of 55 percent hybrids, 30 percent conventional vehicles, 10 percent plug-in electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt and 5 percent battery-electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf.
The two groups conducted another analysis that found 60 mpg by 2025 standards would save consumers $101 billion in 2030—or $748 per household—cut oil use by 44 billion gallons, and reduce heat-trapping carbon pollution by 465 million metric tons, the equivalent of taking nearly 70 million vehicles off the road. The analysis also includes estimated savings for the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
A national poll commissioned by the Go60MPG coalition (which includes Environment America, NRDC, the Sierra Club and UCS) and conducted by the Mellman Group, found robust support for the new standards. Seventy-four percent of likely voters favor having “the federal government require the auto industry to increase average fuel efficiency…to 60 miles per gallon by the year 2025.” Sixty-six percent of respondents still supported the idea even if it added $3,000 to the price of a new car. However, eighty-three percent of respondents said they would favor the policy if a $3,000 cost were recouped in four years through savings at the pump.
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
