18 Feb 2014
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President Obama to Set New Fuel Standards for US Trucks
posted by Unknown @ 07:27 0 Comments
President Obama is set to direct new federal agencies to
developing increased fuel standards for both heavy and medium-sized trucks over
the next two years. The step is intended
to have a two-pronged effect, both to decrease dependency on foreign imports and
to help reduce carbon emissions which can be harmful to the environment. The announcement will be made in Upper
Marlboro, Maryland , a major
distribution center for the Safeway grocery chain.
President Obama’s administration has already directed that
automakers double the average fuel economy of light trucks and new cars by the
year 2025 to almost 55 MPG. These new
rules took effect in 2012. Now the president
is setting his sites on making medium-sized and heavy-duty trucks more gas efficient
as well.
The new rules will build on already existing ones for the
larger-sized trucks and will be spearheaded by the EPA which will be in charge
of developing the new requirements itself.
These new rules will be directed at current models 2014 to 2018.
The move by the president seeks to circumvent Congress,
which he believes has been dragging its feet on the issue. "Unless and until we do more to combat
carbon pollution that causes climate change, this trend is going to get
worse," says President Obama.
New fuel standards are on the way
New minimum requirements will also be a welcome relief to US
motorists, who have seen gas price s as much as triple over the past five years
alone. A move toward energy independency
would only be strengthened by an increase in fuel economy to most all vehicles
large and small.
Working in conjunction with the EPA
will be the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, which answers to the Department of Transportation. These new fuel standards are scheduled to go
into effect by no later than March 31,
2016 .
Right now heavy-duty trucks account for just 4 percent of all
registered vehicles on the road. Even
so, they still produce 25 percent of all carbon emissions. The Obama administration believes that the United
States can cut its oil consumption by as
much as 530 million barrels per year.
That’s more than is imported each year from Middle Eastern countries
like Saudi Arabia .
It is believed by the administration that the new standards
will as much as double fuel efficiency in light vehicles and trucks by the year
2025. Fuel consumption could be reduced
by as much as 2.2 mmbopd, much of that of course imported.
The new plan calls for a 20 percent reduction in fuel
consumption for heavy-duty trucks. Vans
have been targeted with a 15 percent reduction.
The larger of vehicles like buses, delivery trucks, and garbage trucks
would be required to run more fuel efficient by 10 percent.
According to the administration, this could lead to $50 billion in saving for the American consumer, money that can be spent elsewhere and a good portion of that can be kept right here in theUSA ,
ultimately helping to create more jobs.
According to the administration, this could lead to $50 billion in saving for the American consumer, money that can be spent elsewhere and a good portion of that can be kept right here in the
Current rules for CAFÉ, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy,
are already set for 29 MPG. This is
scheduled to increase to 35.5 MPG by the year 2016. Former transportation secretary Ray Lahood
stated back in 2012, when the new regulations were first handed down, that it should
save Americans as much as $1.7 trillion in fuel costs, or $8000 per vehicle
through the year 2025.
Consumers will see savings over the long haul
Savings should offset the initial sticker shock for the new vehicles, and over time will actually show the consumer an overall savings. This will help stimulate sales in the automotive industry and create new jobs.
“Compliance with higher fuel-economy standards is based on
sales, not what we put on the showroom floor,” says the Alliance of Automobile
Manufacturers. But concern from auto
dealers reveals that they are worried this will shut out as many as 7 million
new car buyers from the market.
Higher fuel efficiency is Job-1 when it comes to most
automakers, even as manufacturers like Nissan are increasing their interests in
electrical vehicles. While electric cars
may be a major player on down the road, the facts are that electric models make
up just a tiny fraction of overall sales now and into the foreseeable future.
Also in the works, a push to reduce the overall weight of
most vehicles. By decreasing the engine
size itself and improved aerodynamic designs, most experts believe this can be
achieved.
“The vast majority of vehicles will be more efficient without using electric
or hybrid powertrains,” says Daniel F Becker, director of the Safe Climate
Campaign. “These cars won’t look any different than today unless you check
under the hood.” Auto manufacturers can take lesson from the Germans
There may be some pushback from consumers for smaller
engines and less power, especially in the medium-size to heavy-duty truck
range. But others are quick to point out
that smaller engine size does not necessarily have to mean less power. Take German manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz
and BMW for instance. Both these
companies run on consistently smaller engine size overall from their American
counterparts, yet have increased overall power at the same time.
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