White House to Expand Auto Emissions Standards

The new fuel economy standards will be for cars and trucks, including medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

May 24, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Friday, the White House announced new fuel economy standards for automobiles and trucks, E&E reports. President Barak Obama??s proposal will include emissions standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

"The president??s directive includes support for the development of advanced vehicle infrastructure, especially electric vehicles," the White House told The Detroit News. "This announcement lays the groundwork for a more secure energy future by reducing our dependence on foreign oil, enhancing American competitiveness with a new generation of advanced electric vehicles, and protects the environment."

In April, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation confirmed a set of new car standards that increased the fuel economy of U.S. passenger vehicles and placed the first federal greenhouse gas emissions regulations on 2012-2016 model year cars and trucks. This new round of standards will apply to fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions for model years 2017-2025.

"What we??re really starting [Friday] is a process that involves all the stakeholders," said an industry official. "It??s basically an agreement to move forward together."

Automobile manufacturer like the federal standards put in place this year because it stops "regulatory patchwork" of rules from other state regulations.

This time out, the White House wants national regulations for medium- and heavy-duty trucks for the 2014-2018 model years. "For several years, the [American Trucking Associations] has supported the development of fuel economy standards for trucks," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves in a statement. "Reducing fuel consumption and CO2 production is good for the trucking industry and great for the environment."

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