With new U.S. DOT fuel efficiency standards, everybody wins

Just recently, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) and the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) finalized new national standards for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions for passenger cars and light trucks. Their new standards will apply to vehicles built between the years 2017 and 2025, by which time the fuel economy for an average car will have reached 54.5 miles per gallon which is almost two times better than the fuel economy of cars on the road today.

The results of these new standards are nothing but positive on all fronts. Not only will we reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, but Americans will use less fuel thus saving money as well as conserving a valuable and quickly diminishing natural resource. The popularity of fuel efficient cars such as the GM Chevy Cruze and the Ford F-150 with its EcoBoost engine, show that Americans as well as car manufacturers are already responding to the newly announced standards.

American carmakers are supporting these new standards as well. They are willing and ready to build cars that the American public desires. With fuel efficient tools and technologies already in place, manufacturers can continue to build upon these and create more innovative solutions. With the support of 13 major automotive manufacturers, responsible for building 90% of the cars sold in the U.S., it is clear that these new standards are a great boost towards a more sustainable future in the transportation realm.

"Simply put, this groundbreaking program will result in vehicles that use less gas, travel farther, and provide more efficiency for consumers than ever before--all while maintaining safety, protecting the air we breathe, and laying the groundwork for automakers to create jobs, developed advanced technologies, and improve quality of life for American families."

 Works Cited

 http://fastlane.dot.gov/2012/08/cafe-2017-2025.html#.UEagwfvlfTo