Bush to raise gas milage by 1.5 MPH in small trucks
12-14-2002, 07:04 PM
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Bush to raise gas milage by 1.5 MPG in small trucks
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WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration will make official on Friday its plan to require the biggest increases in light truck fuel economy in nearly two decades.
Under the proposal, the light truck fuel economy standard would rise 0.3 mpg in the 2005 model year. It would go up another 0.6 mpg in both 2006 and 2007.
The cumulative effect of the hikes would be to raise the standard from 20.7 mpg to 22.2 mpg over three model years for pickups, vans and sport-utilities up to 6,000 pounds, gross vehicle weight.
The last comparable rise was from 19.5 to 20.5 mpg between 1985 and 1987. The 20.7 standard has been in effect since 1996.
"The fact is, this really is going to be a challenge for the industry to meet in the near term," said Dr. Jeffrey Runge. He is administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the agency charged with enforcing the corporate average fuel economy program.
Environmental groups, on the other hand, reacting to published reports about the administration plan, have said it is far too weak, requiring even less than what some automakers have already promised to do on their own.
But industry officials say raising light truck fuel economy even by 0.1 mpg is difficult because consumers keep demanding powerful, safe vehicles with ample hauling and towing capacity.
NHTSA expects automakers to be able to meet the tougher standards by making greater use of available fuel-saving technology - not by downsizing vehicles. So, the proposal will not cause vehicles to be less safe, Runge said.
NHTSA calculated that the changes will add $47 to the cost of each light truck by 2007. But the benefits to consumers, for reduced fuel consumption, and to society, for environmental protection and less reliance on imported oil, are estimated to be worth $100 per vehicle.
The administration does not propose a change in the car standard of 27.5 mpg, but Runge said NHTSA will consider raising the car standard after the 2007 model year. He also said the agency will propose additional, and possibly "creative" changes in the truck standard for the period beyond 2007.
NHTSA had too little information at this point to go beyond the 2005-07 period, Runge explained.
As it is, time is tight.
The proposal is to be published in the Federal Register Friday, Dec. 13. NHTSA will accept comments from interested parties for 60 days, or until mid-February. A final rule must be adopted by April 1, 2003, in order for it to take effect in the 2005 model year.
or full story...
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration will make official on Friday its plan to require the biggest increases in light truck fuel economy in nearly two decades.
Under the proposal, the light truck fuel economy standard would rise 0.3 mpg in the 2005 model year. It would go up another 0.6 mpg in both 2006 and 2007.
The cumulative effect of the hikes would be to raise the standard from 20.7 mpg to 22.2 mpg over three model years for pickups, vans and sport-utilities up to 6,000 pounds, gross vehicle weight.
The last comparable rise was from 19.5 to 20.5 mpg between 1985 and 1987. The 20.7 standard has been in effect since 1996.
"The fact is, this really is going to be a challenge for the industry to meet in the near term," said Dr. Jeffrey Runge. He is administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the agency charged with enforcing the corporate average fuel economy program.
Environmental groups, on the other hand, reacting to published reports about the administration plan, have said it is far too weak, requiring even less than what some automakers have already promised to do on their own.
But industry officials say raising light truck fuel economy even by 0.1 mpg is difficult because consumers keep demanding powerful, safe vehicles with ample hauling and towing capacity.
NHTSA expects automakers to be able to meet the tougher standards by making greater use of available fuel-saving technology - not by downsizing vehicles. So, the proposal will not cause vehicles to be less safe, Runge said.
NHTSA calculated that the changes will add $47 to the cost of each light truck by 2007. But the benefits to consumers, for reduced fuel consumption, and to society, for environmental protection and less reliance on imported oil, are estimated to be worth $100 per vehicle.
The administration does not propose a change in the car standard of 27.5 mpg, but Runge said NHTSA will consider raising the car standard after the 2007 model year. He also said the agency will propose additional, and possibly "creative" changes in the truck standard for the period beyond 2007.
NHTSA had too little information at this point to go beyond the 2005-07 period, Runge explained.
As it is, time is tight.
The proposal is to be published in the Federal Register Friday, Dec. 13. NHTSA will accept comments from interested parties for 60 days, or until mid-February. A final rule must be adopted by April 1, 2003, in order for it to take effect in the 2005 model year.
Last edited by Meccadeth; 12-14-2002 at 07:32 PM.
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