New emissions and fuel efficiency standards could mean 35 mpg cars and trucks, standard.

May 19, 2009 – 10:15 am – No Comment

President Obama is set to release new pollution standards today that will up the miles per gallon a fleet must have by 2016. At the time this article was written, information and details had not yet been released, however California, the District of Columbia, and thirteen other states have been urging the federal government to let them put forth more harsh standards than what the government’s current requirements are. The 15 entities are asking for regulations that would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent in new vehicles by 2016. Of course, in March 2008, there was a ruling that said states couldn’t determine their own limits on greenhouse emissions, so the legislation would have to come from the federal government.

Today’s announcement is set to follow the same path as the 30% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2016. It is rumored that the new emission rules would go into effect for cars and trucks made for the 2011 model year and beyond.

The new proposal will have two separate standards for fuel efficiency and greenhouse emissions. The idea is to get car manufactures to produce cars that have a high MPG as well as a smaller carbon footprint. Roland Hwang, the vehicles policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council said he expects the standard will be set somewhere around 35 miles per gallon for the vehicle fleet by 2016.

There is already a law on the books that requires at least 35 miles per gallon by 2020, which is a 40% increase from the current 25 miles per gallon standard. The energy law, implemented in 2007, however is seen as just not enough right now since we’ve seen what high gas prices can do to our wallets, as well as what high emissions can do to the environment. The current 25 miles per gallon standard hasn’t been changed since 1985.

The government is already pushing General Motors as well as Chrysler to produce more fuel efficient/environmentally friendly vehicles. Since the two companies have accepted billions of dollars in federal money, it would probably be in their best interests to continue to do things that the government “suggested.”

New fuel efficiency standards for U.S. made cars would likely make American made cars a bit more appealing to everyone, not just Americans, but car buyers from all over the world. If you look at countries like Great Britain, when we were complaining about our gas being over $4 a gallon, they said that they would welcome a price like that. At the time, they were paying upwards of what equaled out to 10 U.S. dollars for a gallon of gasoline.