New Government Gas Mileage Standards Stand to Double Fuel Efficiency
25 Oct 2012Vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later will be more fuel efficient — thanks to a new fuel efficiency standards regulation finalized late this summer.
This comes as both good and bad news for car owners, as cars purchased with a 2025 model year will have nearly twice the average gas mileage of cars and trucks — when the new fuel efficiency standards are combined with existing ones. And with gas prices being over $4 a gallon in some cities, improved fuel efficiency is definitely a good thing.
On the bad side though, the price per vehicle will likely increase, with some expecting certain vehicle prices to increase by nearly $3K.
As a result of the new regulation, American automakers will be forced to manufacture their 2025 cars with significantly more gas mileage, and may be fined if they refuse. The new rules will be phased in gradually from now until then, and will vary by automaker depending on the mix of vehicle models they sell.
The newest vehicles are expected to slash greenhouse gases by half, which is another step in the right direction for the environment. In addition to the new fuel efficiency standards looking to save consumers more than $1.7 trillion at the gas pump, they are expected to reduce U.S. consumption of oil by upwards of 12 billion barrels.
While light-duty trucks and cars will have to have an average of 54.5 miles per gallon in 13 years, it won’t actually equal double the current rate of 28.6 mpg though. The numbers will be closer to an average of 40 mpg in the real world, experts contend.
Unfortunately, car owners may have shell out approximately $2,800 more for these gas-efficient vehicles. On the flip side, car owners can save about $8,000 in the cost of gas during the life of the vehicle.
President Barack Obama said the new fuel standards “represent the single most important step” in regards to his administration hoping to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil. Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential nominee, is opposed to the new fuel standards. His recent campaign stated that the rise in vehicle prices won’t be worth the money saved in gas.
Want to improve your fuel efficiency before we see the likes of these new gas mileage standards in place? Whether for business or personal use, installing a GPS tracking system may be the best way to improve the fuel efficiency of your vehicle or fleet of vehicles through curtailing unnecessary idling, eliminating speeding, and planning the most fuel-efficient routes.
Comments are closed.