Fuel efficiency rules to spur advanced vehicles

AP on Yahoo ^ | 3/31/10 | Ken Thomas - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON – Automakers are being pushed to build a more fuel-efficient generation of gas-electric hybrids, turbocharged engines and advanced vehicles powered by electricity under tough new standards from the Obama administration.

Final rules to be signed Thursday by the Transportation Department and the Environmental Protection Agency come after carmakers posted modest gains in the distance a car can travel on a gallon of gas.

The rules require 2016 model year vehicles to meet fuel efficiency targets of 35.5 miles per gallon combined for cars and trucks, an increase of nearly 10 mpg over current standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The EPA, issuing the first rules ever on vehicle greenhouse gas emissions, will set a tailpipe emissions standard of 250 grams of carbon dioxide per mile for vehicles sold in 2016, or the equivalent of what would be emitted by vehicles meeting the mileage standard.

[Bean Counter]

Here we go again, more mandates from “The Feds” that will accomplish exactly nothing. I’ve lost count of how many times I have seen a headline exactly like this one in my lifetime...

[Tarpon]

Outbreak of suicide clown cars to stave off over population.

[chrisser]

Fuel efficiency rules to spur advanced very expensive vehicles

[boop]

The new vehicles will be “wished” into existence. Or they will be deathtraps forced on the public.

[artaxerces]

Production has peaked in many of the key oil fields around the world. Getting more fuel efficient cars is a wise thing to do.

[truthguy]

The rules require 2016 model year vehicles to meet fuel efficiency targets of 35.5 miles per gallon combined for cars and trucks

If by regulatory fiat it's possible to get 35.5 mpg, then why not just increase it to 135.5 mpg? That would solve all our energy problem with regard to transportation fuels.

This is just another indication just how foolish and stupid bureaucrats are at the Dept of Transportation & EPA. It also another indication of how insane our current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave is- as if we needed any other indication. The stupidity of these people is only surpassed by their arrogance.

[chrisser]

Production has peaked in many of the key oil fields around the world.

You really need to add a sarcasm tag to statements like that. People may think you're serious.

[GraceG]

>> Production has peaked in many of the key oil fields around the world. Getting more fuel efficient cars is a wise thing to do. <<

Well if we let the market decide, instead we will see more Mandates which will poison the market and lead to stagnation in product development.

[pb929]

Hang onto your wallet, this is gonna cost you.

[JenB987]

King Obama commands thee!

[thackney]

Has the global oil production capacity started going down?

Has a reliable source predicted it will go down in the next 30 years?

[backwoods-engineer]

When will the media report that raising MPG standards cause more highway deaths?

I'm going the other way--fixing up older pickup trucks that can be maintained when SHTF.

[PA Engineer]

[musicman]

[Tallguy]

Perhaps you can enlighten me on how we get a 10 mpg increase in this short time frame? I can tell you that Congress has no clue.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

"Production has peaked in many of the key oil fields around the world. Getting more fuel efficient cars is a wise thing to do."

If this is true then the market should be able to handle it. The flow of oil will not dry up over night. It will just get harder and more expensive to deliver to market. As gasoline prices rise consumers will voluntarily move to more fuel efficient cars, and manufacturers will make more of them to meet the increased demand.

If it weren't for the chicken-little global warming hysteria we would just allow the market to works its magic over time.

The only reason I could see for getting a fuel efficient car now if you can afford a guzzler is because you want us to be less reliant on foreign imports.

The solution there is to open up more of the US to oil production, and encourage the generation of more power from nuclear and less from natural gas.

[utherdoul]

Hell if I make my car out of plastic and chinese rubber tires and a motorcycle engine I could probably get much better fuel milage.

[Venturer]

Here is a Smart car with a motorcycle engine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPQIizRp9ck

[Doe Eyes]

Here we go again, more mandates from “The Feds” that will accomplish exactly nothing.

The rest of the world just taxes gasoline at $4 a gallon.