The Biden administration recently released a new set of vehicle emission rules that were not as strict as the original proposal put forth by the president. This new rule will see fuel economy increase by 2 percent per year for model years 2027-2031 for passenger cars, and 2 percent per year for model years 2029-2031 for light trucks. The goal is to bring the average light-duty vehicle fuel economy up to approximately 50.4 miles per gallon of gas by model year 2031.
The new emission rules proposed by the Biden administration are less ambitious than previous proposals. President Biden had originally suggested that passenger vehicles achieve an average of 55 miles per gallon by 2026. Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had proposed boosting the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) requirements by 2 percent per year for passenger cars and 4 percent per year for light-duty trucks from 2027 through 2032. However, these figures have been significantly reined in with the latest rule change.
The auto industry has praised the new CAFE standards, referring to them as “good and appreciated.” However, there are questions about whether these standards are still necessary in an industry that is rapidly moving towards electrification. While some environmental groups have expressed disappointment with the less stringent standards, most agree that the new rules will lead to less pollution and cleaner cars.
The director of the Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All Campaign, Katherine García, stated that the new fuel economy standards will improve gas mileage, reduce the burden of high gas prices for American families, and decrease the nation’s oil consumption. Despite improvements in fuel economy over the years, the United States is still struggling to meet imminent deadlines. The popularity of larger trucks and SUVs has caused American automakers to fall behind their competitors in terms of achieving higher miles per gallon of gas.
While the Biden administration’s new vehicle emission rules aim to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions, they are less ambitious than previous proposals. The auto industry has welcomed the new standards, but questions remain about their necessity in a rapidly electrifying industry. Environmental groups have expressed some concerns, but overall, most agree that the new rules will lead to cleaner cars and reduced pollution.
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