Auto Rules not Enough to Break Dependence
President Bush says America is addicted to foreign oil, an analysis that few, if any, Americans would dispute.
If you can pardon the pun, the rubber will meet the road next week when the Bush administration gives the final go-ahead to new fuel economy standards for "light trucks."
The controversial category includes most sport utility vehicles, smaller pickup trucks and minivans, representing a large part of vehicles on the road today. The administration faces an April 1 deadline to complete a plan so that automakers can comply with the new rules for the 2008 model year.
As the proposal now stands, smallest light trucks would have to achieve a fuel economy of 28.4 miles a gallon by 2011; the largest 21.3 miles a gallon.
In fact, some of the new light truck standards would be stricter than the existing standards for passenger cars. In theory, that should reduce the incentive for automakers to make passenger cars that could be categorized as light trucks to meet a more generous fuel economy standard. Currently, new cars must average 27.5 miles a gallon and light trucks 21.6 miles a gallon.
Unfortunately, these latest standards won't do enough to ease the nation's oil addiction, in part because passenger cars and heavier trucks aren't part of this review and will not face tougher guidelines.
Opponents of higher fuel economy standards insist higher-mileage vehicles are lighter and less safe. They also contend tougher standards will encourage motorists to drive more and burn more gasoline.
There is a grain of truth to these objections. But if the United States is truly serious about reducing dependence on foreign oil, then the federal government must shutter regulatory loopholes and push automakers to meet tougher fuel economy standards for all sizes of cars and trucks.
This is what it will take to encourage Americans to alter their driving habits and force the industry to more aggressively pursue hybrid and other gasoline-saving technologies as energy costs rise.
Future reviews also must set more stringent fuel economy standards for passenger cars and heavier trucks.
Fuel economy is not an option; it's a national imperative.
KRTWire
If you can pardon the pun, the rubber will meet the road next week when the Bush administration gives the final go-ahead to new fuel economy standards for "light trucks."
The controversial category includes most sport utility vehicles, smaller pickup trucks and minivans, representing a large part of vehicles on the road today. The administration faces an April 1 deadline to complete a plan so that automakers can comply with the new rules for the 2008 model year.
As the proposal now stands, smallest light trucks would have to achieve a fuel economy of 28.4 miles a gallon by 2011; the largest 21.3 miles a gallon.
In fact, some of the new light truck standards would be stricter than the existing standards for passenger cars. In theory, that should reduce the incentive for automakers to make passenger cars that could be categorized as light trucks to meet a more generous fuel economy standard. Currently, new cars must average 27.5 miles a gallon and light trucks 21.6 miles a gallon.
Unfortunately, these latest standards won't do enough to ease the nation's oil addiction, in part because passenger cars and heavier trucks aren't part of this review and will not face tougher guidelines.
Opponents of higher fuel economy standards insist higher-mileage vehicles are lighter and less safe. They also contend tougher standards will encourage motorists to drive more and burn more gasoline.
There is a grain of truth to these objections. But if the United States is truly serious about reducing dependence on foreign oil, then the federal government must shutter regulatory loopholes and push automakers to meet tougher fuel economy standards for all sizes of cars and trucks.
This is what it will take to encourage Americans to alter their driving habits and force the industry to more aggressively pursue hybrid and other gasoline-saving technologies as energy costs rise.
Future reviews also must set more stringent fuel economy standards for passenger cars and heavier trucks.
Fuel economy is not an option; it's a national imperative.
KRTWire
posted by Ottawa Gas Prices | 7:57 PM
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