Department of Transportation announces new fuel economy standards

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Fuel economy standards overview: 

• Who: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed new fuel economy and fuel efficiency standards on behalf of the Department of Transportation last week. 
• Why: The proposed rulemaking calls for an increase in fuel efficiency standards of 2% per year for model year 2027-2031 passenger vehicles and 4% per year for light trucks. 
• Where: Nationwide.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed new fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks and new fuel efficiency standards for model year 2027-2031 vehicles. 

The proposed rulemaking, which was made on behalf of the Department of Transportation, calls for an increase in fuel efficiency standards of 2% per year for model year 2027-2031 passenger vehicles and 4% per year for light trucks. 

The NHTSA also proposed new fuel efficiency standards for model year 2030-2035 heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans that would increase at a rate of 10% per year, according to a notice of proposed rulemaking last week. 

“These proposed standards are directly responsive to the agency’s statutory mandate to improve energy conservation and reduce the nation’s energy dependence on foreign sources,” the NHTSA said. 

NHTSA projects new standards would require model year 2032 passenger vehicles to average about 58 miles per gallon

The NHTSA also set forth proposed augural standards for model year 2032 passenger cars and light trucks that would increase at a year-over-year rate of 2% and 4%, respectively. 

The agency projects that the proposed standards would require model year 2032 passenger cars and light trucks to average around 58 miles per gallon and for model year 2038 heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans to average about 2.6 gallons per 100 miles. 

“NHTSA further projects that the proposed standards would reduce average fuel outlays over the lifetimes of passenger cars and light trucks by $1,043 and of (heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans) by $439,” the agency said. 

The notice of proposed rulemaking follows April proposals by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for vehicle emission standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and heavy-duty vehicles, according to Law360. 

Under the EPA’s proposed standards, automakers reportedly would have to cut down on the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions for all new vehicles sold in the U.S., starting in model year 2027 for cars and model year 2028 for heavy-duty trucks. 

In other news involving vehicle emissions, Porsche agreed to pay $80 million last year to end claims the automaker misleadingly marketed emissions fuel economy ratings for its gasoline sports cars. 

What are your thoughts on the NHTSA’s proposed new fuel economy standards? Let us know in the comments.

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