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| Obama to tighten fuel efficiency norms for cars, trucks |
| Lalit K Jha /PTI / Washington May 19, 2009, 11:31 IST |
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US President Barack Obama has decided to come out with the toughest ever fuel efficiency and first ever greenhouse gas emission standards; according to which by 2016 American auto makers would have to make vehicles that gives an average fleet mileage of 35.5 miles per gallon.
In 2016, US auto makers would have to manufacture cars having a fuel efficiency of 39 miles per gallon and for trucks the efficiency standards would be 30 miles per gallon.
Presently, it is 27.5 miles per gallon for cars and 23.1 miles per gallon for trucks.
This is expected to save 1.8 billion barrels of oil and is projected to achieve reductions of 900 million metric tons of green house gas emission.
"That is equivalent to taking 177 million cars off the road or shutting down 194 coal plants,"a senior administration official told White House reporters on the eve of the announcement being made by Obama today.
The new efficiency norms were earlier scheduled to be achieved by 2020. At present, the average fuel efficiency for 2009-make motor vehicles (cars and trucks) is 25 miles per gallons. This is an average five per cent yearly increase in fuel efficiency, the official said adding that this is equivalent to taking 177 million cars off the road or shutting down 194 coal plants.
Ever since occupying the White House in January this year, Obama has been insisting on the US auto makers to manufacture efficient and cleaner cars.
"We do that by setting - by proposing individual standards for each class size of vehicle and then a fleet average for each company," the official said.
The Obama Administration believes that by 2020 the average price of petroleum in the US would be USD 3.50 per gallon. An attractive feature of the latest Obama policy on fuel efficiency, the officials said is that consumers can maintain their choice, but they will be more fuel efficient cars just because every single category of cars has to become more efficient.
"These are historic levels and historic increases in fuel efficiency," the official said.
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