While many American automakers are shifting toward more fuel-efficient vehicles to satisfy consumers and save consumers’ money at the gas pump, the Barack Obama administration has made an official move in that direction. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has said on 28 August, Tuesday that automakers will be forced to nearly double the average gas mileage of all new cars and trucks they sell by 2025.
According to the new standards announced by the Obama administration, each cars and light-duty trucks must be upgraded and will have the capability of going 54.5 miles (at least) per gallon by 2025, up from 28.6 mpg at the end of last year.
On the other side, Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) mentioned that consumers having 54.5 mileage per gallon car will be able to save $8,000 over the life compared to current cars’ fuel consumption. The UCS also mentioned that the mileage changes will cut oil use by 3.1 million barrels per day by 2030. Added to these, Blue Green Alliance, a group of 14 unions and environmental organizations has found that the massive changes in mpg would lead to 570,000 more American jobs. Their study was published in June.
13 major automakers have supported this new mileage standard. To meet the standard, automakers will need to introduce new technology to improve gasoline-powered engines. Many critics have said that due to this new mileage standards, the price of cars will rise a lot therefore it’ll be unaffordable for many people to buy.
Greg Martin, executive director for communications of the largest U.S. car company General Motors has said, “Consumers want higher fuel efficiency in their cars and trucks, and GM is going to give it to them.”
For now, the automakers have committed to make and provide consumers an average of 35.5 mpg car by 2016 under. The new rules will be applied to vehicles made from 2017 to 2025.
Source : ABC News
Thanks To : CBC News
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