American president Barack Obama finally unveiled on Tuesday the new fuel economy standards to which the big automakers will have to adhere in the next few years. The program, which the president qualified as historic, aims to establish stricter fuel consumption standards for all vehicles.
The announcement made by administration officials states that as of 2012 the average fuel consumption of each automaker’s fleets operating on American soil will have to be decreased by 5% per year. The goal is to decrease the current consumption level of 9.1 litres per 100 km (25 miles per gallon) to an average of 6.72 litres per 100 km (35 miles per gallon).
If this target is reached, emissions will be reduced by 900 million metric tons of carbon monoxide, the equivalent of 177 million vehicles will be removed from the road and 194 coal-fired power plants will be closed.
The program will come into effect in 2012 and will span four years. At the end of this four-year period, passenger vehicles will consume an average of 6 litres per 100 kilometres (39 miles per gallon) while trucks and SUVs will consume 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres. The main goal is based on the average consumption of these two classes.
However, the new rules will also affect consumers, as according to American estimates they will have to pay an extra $1,300 per vehicle on average. Nevertheless, it is hoped that, at an average of $3.50 per gallon, the fuel economy generated will enable buyers to get a return on their investment within three years.
Colossal support
Obviously, such standards, already planned for California but that will henceforth apply to the entire country, could not have been set without the contribution of the big American automakers.
GM and Chrysler were initially opposed to the changes but have now given their consent. It goes without saying that the sums invested by the government in each of these companies, whether as a loan or financial assistance, put some pressure on them.
But even Ford, who didn’t receive anything, has chosen to support the program, saying that they are happy to work towards the same goal across the country.
It also helps that the American manufacturers aren’t going home empty handed. They have been fighting for years for unified standards between passenger and utility vehicles. The establishment of these new standards has enabled this unification.
For now, the Government of Canada has not reacted to the announcement but, traditionally, the CAFE doesn’t have an equivalent here.
photo:Jupiter Images
The announcement made by administration officials states that as of 2012 the average fuel consumption of each automaker’s fleets operating on American soil will have to be decreased by 5% per year. The goal is to decrease the current consumption level of 9.1 litres per 100 km (25 miles per gallon) to an average of 6.72 litres per 100 km (35 miles per gallon).
If this target is reached, emissions will be reduced by 900 million metric tons of carbon monoxide, the equivalent of 177 million vehicles will be removed from the road and 194 coal-fired power plants will be closed.
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The program will come into effect in 2012 and will span four years. At the end of this four-year period, passenger vehicles will consume an average of 6 litres per 100 kilometres (39 miles per gallon) while trucks and SUVs will consume 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres. The main goal is based on the average consumption of these two classes.
However, the new rules will also affect consumers, as according to American estimates they will have to pay an extra $1,300 per vehicle on average. Nevertheless, it is hoped that, at an average of $3.50 per gallon, the fuel economy generated will enable buyers to get a return on their investment within three years.
Colossal support
Obviously, such standards, already planned for California but that will henceforth apply to the entire country, could not have been set without the contribution of the big American automakers.
GM and Chrysler were initially opposed to the changes but have now given their consent. It goes without saying that the sums invested by the government in each of these companies, whether as a loan or financial assistance, put some pressure on them.
But even Ford, who didn’t receive anything, has chosen to support the program, saying that they are happy to work towards the same goal across the country.
It also helps that the American manufacturers aren’t going home empty handed. They have been fighting for years for unified standards between passenger and utility vehicles. The establishment of these new standards has enabled this unification.
For now, the Government of Canada has not reacted to the announcement but, traditionally, the CAFE doesn’t have an equivalent here.
photo:Jupiter Images