EPA report shows backsliding on auto fuel economy and emissions, critics say

la times ^ | 12-16-2015 | Charles Fleming

[Citizen Zed]

A report from the Environmental Protection Agency indicates that U.S. automakers' progress toward better fuel economy and emissions standards is slowing.

The agency's new study shows scant improvement in either area. Average fuel economy for U.S. passenger vehicles in 2014, industrywide, was 24.3 miles per gallon -- the same number achieved in 2013. Average carbon dioxide emissions were also the same, at 366 grams per mile.

This represents backsliding on the part of automakers and auto consumers, critics were quick to say.

Automakers sold more vehicles that were heavier, larger and produced more horsepower, according to the EPA numbers. Consumers bought more light trucks and SUVs, and fewer passenger sedans.

The numbers end a years-long trend of improving progress toward the government's stated goal of an average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. The Obama administration said in 2012 that automakers would have to hit that goal or face penalties.

[Citizen Zed]

[tet68]

I don’t suppose it could have anything to do with
unreasonable/unobtainable goals.......Noooooooooooo.

[JoeFromSidney]

Or the laws of chemistry.

[bigbob]

or cheating

[jjotto]

Four more horsepower and over 50 lbs. heavier than 2013.

Taxes and license fees by weight are coming!

[Huskrrrr]

Tell Al Gore to lose his SUV.

[Gen.Blather]

My mother asked why SUV’s and trucks are so popular. In a word, space. Cars that meet the EPA restrictions are too small to ride comfortably in day after day. It wouldn’t be so bad if they’d bring back bench seats and skip the sexy center console. But every new car interior resembles a fighter’s cockpit. Give me a bench seat and some foot room please.

[JoSixChip]

One wonders if the EPA understands the concept of “diminishing returns”.

[BitWielder1]

In the wintry woods of NH, a Prius is not an option.
I NEED 4-wheel drive, I NEED loading and towing capacity and I'm not one of those wealthy celebrities who can afford a different car for every occasion.
So pickup it is.

[Bob434]

backsliding, oh the horror! Man’s contribution of CO2 to the atmosphere might just reach 0.00137% of the atmosphere by 3015 if we don’t jump right on that!

[Red Badger]

It wouldn’t be so bad if they’d bring back bench seats and skip the sexy center console.

The reason teh Bench Seat is mostly history is because if they have one, therefore someone could sit in it and that necessitates the addition of another air bag system and all its controls....................

[Sacajaweau]

I agree....bench seats work. That stupid console is just a junk collector.

[jjotto]

Note that this comes as automakers are EXCEEDING the CAFE standards required improvement. That’s because there are cheats built into CAFE, such a huge approved fake numbers for flex fuel vehicles. Another reason fuel ethanol isn’t going away soon.

[immadashell]

But amazing as the news may be, the New York Times is reporting that a government audit found the EPA may have broken the law with their endless politicking in support of the administration’s changes to the clean water rules. And this isn’t a minor charge, either.

Can anyone tell me why we should believe anything that comes out of this criminal, agenda-driven organization? They have lost all credibility and should be shut down as a colossal failure.

[stylin19a]

auto makers should call the bluff, like they did back in the mid 70’s.

[Senator_Blutarski]

The geniuses at the EPA see no problem with demanding cleaner cars at the same time they demand better mileage. The two objectives are much of the time incompatible.

Meanwhile, Americans are voting with their checkbooks. SUV’s, pickup trucks and minivans remain popular. Electric cars are selling like crap sandwiches.

For those of us who live in the north electric cars are totally impractical. Who wants a tin can with a 25 mile range and no heater in -20 weather?

[DaxtonBrown]

“average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025”

Ain’t happening.

[The Antiyuppie]

“Taxes and license fees by weight are coming!”

They are ALREADY here. The reason you can’t buy a V8 Camaro or Mustang for under 40K these days is that 10K of that subsidizes the costs of the crapboxes that no one wants to buy.

[headstamp 2]

“But every new car interior resembles a fighter’s cockpit. Give me a bench seat and some foot room please.”

I love watching the old movies when people slid across the front seat to exit at curbside.

My old ‘70 Impala could seat 4 across front and back and stack about 5 bodies in the trunk. LOL

[Pontiac]

Automakers sold more vehicles that were heavier, larger and produced more horsepower, according to the EPA numbers. Consumers bought more light trucks and SUVs, and fewer passenger sedans.

I wonder if that was because those were the cars people wanted to buy.

If people wanted small cramped cars that got 60 miles per gallon the car manufacturers would sell lots of them but people don’t buy cars that are uncomfortable and inconvenient because all you can stuff into it is a deck of cards. Then there is the fact that those light fuel efficient cars get blown off the road by the first brisk wind that comes along or the first 18 wheeler that happens to pass you.