The Biden administration has issued another vehicle emissions rule that is not as stringent as the president initially proposed.
Under the new regulations, fuel economy will increase by 2% per year for passenger cars from 2027 to 2031, and by 2% per year for light trucks from 2029 to 2031. These increases will bring average light-duty vehicle fuel economy to about 50.4 miles per gallon by 2031, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Passenger car fuel economy will increase by 2% per year from 2027 to 2031
The auto industry has praised the new CAFE standards, calling them “good and admirable” while questioning whether they are still needed in an industry rushing toward electrification.
Some environmental groups have expressed dissatisfaction with the less stringent standards, but most believe the rules will reduce pollution and make cars cleaner.
“NHTSA’s new fuel economy standards will improve gas mileage, ease the burden of high gas prices on American families and reduce our nation’s oil consumption,” said Katherine García, director of the Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign, in a statement. . “Under these new standards, automakers will have to deliver cleaner, more efficient vehicles.”
Even though America’s fuel economy has improved over the years, we’re still falling short of what’s needed to meet the fast-approaching deadlines. America’s love affair with big trucks and SUVs has left automakers lagging behind rivals in miles per gallon.
