The New York Times is reporting that the Obama Administration is planning to announce a new set of CAFE standards tomorrow, which will enforce stricter regualtions for vehicle mileage on a federal level. The plan is expected to combine California’s toughest emission regulations with federal law. This will see the national fleet mileage moved up to 42mpg for cars and 26mpg for light trucks by 2016. Current standards are set at 27.5mpg and 24mpg respectively.
According to Politico, the Obama Administration isn’t expecting an resistance from the auto industry on this as it was hammered out over meetings with several states as well as representatives of many of the major domestic and foreign car manufacturers.
The first thing that jumped out to us was that the mileage requirements for the cars was incredibly strict while it seems that light trucks got off extremely easy.
Interestingly, there aren’t many vehicles out there today that would manage to operate under 42mpg. But this is arguably exactly the kind of push the united States needs to get car manufacturers working in the right direction. Necessity is the mother of invention after all.
Expect more details on the new plan when it’s officially announced tomorrow.
May 19th, 2009 at 5:58 am
Being that my 2007 Toyota Camry hybrid vehicle rating surpasses (SULEV) I called EzPass to request enrollment.
After verbally being rejected for the green discount, I called and emailed the NJ Turnpike authority to appeal the decision.
Following 2 days of communications,here’s their exact reply…
“Thank You for your patience while E-ZPass NJ discussed a resolution to the matter at hand. Unfortunately, your vehicle is not eligible for the Green Plan, based on the fact that it does not get at least 45 mpg. In the description of eligibility requirements it was stated that our customers must meet the mpg. requirement or meet SULEV rerquirements. However, once this was brought to management’s attention it was discovered that the wording was erroneous and should read as the following: “Customers must enroll in the plan and provide proof of eligibility (vehicles that obtain at least 45 miles per gallon AND meet the California Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) standard). We apologize for any confusion caused by this error in description on the NJ Turnpike’s website.”
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Based on the above reply, I guess that emissions are of less importance to the state than getting 45 mpg. That certainly is little incentive to those of us who are trying our best to go green.
FYI, I am currently getting 38 – 44 MPG (in summer months) with the vehicle.
May 19th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Of course there is no opposition from the auto industry. Obama either owns it or they are scared out of their minds to object.
And where is the projected cost in this story. I know. You don’t ? Or you just don’t want anyone in the public to know?