MagicMtnDan
03-29-2006, 11:01 AM
The Bush administration issued new rules Wednesday ratcheting up gas mileage requirements for pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans, for the first time covering the largest SUVs on the road like the Hummer H2 and Chevrolet Suburban.
The new fuel economy rules, covering 2008 through 2011, would save 10.7 billion gallons of fuel over the lifetime of the vehicles sold during the period and go further than an administration proposal issued last summer, officials said.
“The new standards represent the most ambitious fuel economy goals for light trucks ever developed in the program’s 27-year history,” said Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta.
The rules were outlined amid growing public concern about U.S. dependence on foreign sources of oil and rising pump prices. It represents the most significant changes to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy system in three decades and will affect automakersÂ’ product lineup.
Mineta’s announcement, overlooking an interchange of automobiles moving along Interstate 95, follows President Bush’s declaration that the U.S. is “addicted to oil.” Bush has called for a 75 percent reduction in Mideast oil imports by 2025.
The new rules do not apply to passenger cars, which must meet a 27.5 mile per gallon average.
Under the CAFE system, automakers now must meet an average of 21.6 mpg for their 2006 model year light trucks. That average will rise to 22.2 mpg for 2007 vehicles.
Under the new rules, the fleetwide average would reach 24 mpg by 2011, when the largest SUVs will be included in the calculation.
The rule would include SUVs weighing 8,500 to 10,000 pounds for the first time starting in 2011, but would not include large pickup trucks in the weight class. DOT officials said they would require manufacturers to install fuel saving technology on all passenger trucks.
Environmental groups have pressed for the higher standards and urged that the rules start applying to both large trucks and sport utility vehicles.
“The fact that fuel prices have increased and more importantly, fuel price forecasts have increased since the proposal was developed suggests a stronger standard is warranted,” said Eric Haxthausen, an economist with Environmental Defense.
The new fuel economy rules, covering 2008 through 2011, would save 10.7 billion gallons of fuel over the lifetime of the vehicles sold during the period and go further than an administration proposal issued last summer, officials said.
“The new standards represent the most ambitious fuel economy goals for light trucks ever developed in the program’s 27-year history,” said Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta.
The rules were outlined amid growing public concern about U.S. dependence on foreign sources of oil and rising pump prices. It represents the most significant changes to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy system in three decades and will affect automakersÂ’ product lineup.
Mineta’s announcement, overlooking an interchange of automobiles moving along Interstate 95, follows President Bush’s declaration that the U.S. is “addicted to oil.” Bush has called for a 75 percent reduction in Mideast oil imports by 2025.
The new rules do not apply to passenger cars, which must meet a 27.5 mile per gallon average.
Under the CAFE system, automakers now must meet an average of 21.6 mpg for their 2006 model year light trucks. That average will rise to 22.2 mpg for 2007 vehicles.
Under the new rules, the fleetwide average would reach 24 mpg by 2011, when the largest SUVs will be included in the calculation.
The rule would include SUVs weighing 8,500 to 10,000 pounds for the first time starting in 2011, but would not include large pickup trucks in the weight class. DOT officials said they would require manufacturers to install fuel saving technology on all passenger trucks.
Environmental groups have pressed for the higher standards and urged that the rules start applying to both large trucks and sport utility vehicles.
“The fact that fuel prices have increased and more importantly, fuel price forecasts have increased since the proposal was developed suggests a stronger standard is warranted,” said Eric Haxthausen, an economist with Environmental Defense.