The Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that it is raising the combined fuel efficiency standard for 2011 cars and trucks to 27.3 mpg, 2 miles per gallon above the 2010 average.
When was the last passenger car standard changed? Over 20 years ago!
What exactly is the new standard? All 2011 passenger cars must to meet 30.2 mpg. Trucks, SUVs and minivans must meet 24.1 mpg.
How much will it help the environment? The DOT says the increase will save 887 million gallons of fuel and reduce CO2 emissions by 8.3 million metric tons.
Is the the last increase we will see for awhile? The DOT is already working with the EPA to set future fuel efficiency rules combined with emission regulations through 2015, which will be released later this year. The administration is claiming it’s just the first in a series of more aggressive increases that will lead to meeting the 35 mpg standard by 2020 set by a 2007 energy law. Obama has promised that he will get the standard to 40 mpg by 2022.
