The US Energy Depargment has announced tighter fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks and set tougher targets for heavy vehicle manufacturers.
A greener outlook for big rigs Image: Tumbleweed |
In the wake of a recent tough-talking speech by US President Barack Obama, his administration has announced a new agreement on Corporate Averge Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. The latest target, for cars and light-duty trucks sold in the US, has been set at 54.5mpg by 2025 and has the agreement of the major auto manufacturers.
The new target more than doubles the existing standard, which was previously set at 24.1mpg. It was announced in conjunction with 13 automakers - including Ford, GM and Chrysler as well as Toyota, Honda and Volvo - who between them make up the 90% of vehicles sold across the US.
According to President Obama, the agreement: "represents the single most important step we've ever taken as a nation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil," with an estimated saving of 12bn barrels of oil in total, when combined with the model year 2011 light truck standard. This could mean a reduction of 2.2m b/d in oil consumption by 2025.
The CAFE announcement had an almost immediate knock-on effect, with the Obama Administration rapidly introducing similar targets for medium and heavy-duty trucks for the first time in national US history. The fuel economy policy includes trucks and buses built from 2014 to 2018, with the aim of reducing company fuel bills by around $50bn.
The targets are around 20% fuel and emissions reductions for big-rigs or semi-trailers by 2018; a 15% reduction for heavy-duty pick-ups and vans and a 10% reduction for 'vocational vehicles' which includes buses, delivery and garbage trucks.
The new targets also prompted the Administration to offer a multi-million dollar grant package for development of new generation vehicle technology.