Proposed Legislation Would Make It Easier for Automakers to Meet Efficiency Requirements
A bipartisan pair of congressional representatives from Michigan are proposing a new bill, the Fuel Economy Harmonization Act, that would aid automakers in complying with federal fuel efficiency requirements. Introduced on Wednesday, the bill would extend the life of fuel economy credits that are set to expire in five years and raise the ceiling on transferrable credits between car and truck fleets. Under the proposal, manufacturers could also be given additional credits for lowering fleet-wide emissions under new metrics.
Penning the bill, congresspersons Fred Upton (Republican) and Debbie Dingell (Democrat) said they believed the automotive industry would benefit from having a single set of fuel rules. The bill suggests rolling the NHTSA’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and the EPA’s light-duty vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions mandates into one cohesive program.
While economy mandates have been growing, nationwide fuel consumption has still gone up. Likewise, the average mpg of cars sold in the United States hasn’t changed much over the last three years. With pump prices remaining low, consumers have flocked to less-efficient models like crossovers and SUVs.
According to Reuters, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers lauded the bill for “recognizing the consumer benefits that can come from better alignment of government programs.”
Not everyone is thrilled with the proposal, however. The Union of Concerned Scientists suggested the proposal, and a similar bill introduced by Republican Senator Roy Blunt, would allow manufacturers to make vehicles that are on average 3 miles a gallon less efficient by 2021. The union has also been critical of the Trump administration’s current review of efficiency standards. It believes that, once the assessment period ends, the president will press for a rollback — even though there has already been one.
The Obama’s administration finalized fuel standards in 2012 to double the average fuel economy of manufacturer fleets to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. However, the EPA later revised that target to 51.4 mpg due to rising truck sales.
Metrics aside, the new harmonization bill would address conflicts between the NHTSA and EPA’s individual programs. Established under the Obama administration, the Greenhouse Gas Emissions program was intended to be managed in tandem with CAFE. But the EPA currently has more punitive power than the Department of Transportation — giving its rules the higher priority.
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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"Union of Concerned Scientists" - surely a phony "union" containing a few house-moms with online university degrees, who read an article or two.
To all the snivelers, whiners and the idiots suggesting raising the fuel tax, suck on it, this is America. The majority rules here. Yes with all the consequences related. Think of the 2nd Amendment. Freedom of Speech and various other. Except there's specific limits, balances to all these rights. But if you want to commute to your office desk job in a Peterbilt, and have the "deep pockets" necessary, nothing is preventing you. Most every new "car" sold today is a "truck", cute CUV to the mighty F-450 pickup. Yes partly "the consequences" of CAFE, "blah-blah-blah". Although if you want absolutely nothing to do with guns and hate "trucks" and truck owners altogether, please do us all a HUGE favor and invoke your right to remain silent. And again, suck on it.