U.S. Vehicles' Fuel Economy Progress on Track, EPA and DOT Announce
The National Program was developed jointly by the EPA and DOT, in coordination with CARB. It applies to passenger cars and light-duty trucks through model year 2025 and requires manufacturers to improve average fuel efficiency and reduce average greenhouse gas emissions over time.
DOT, EPA, and the California Air Resource Board issued a draft Technical Assessment Report on July 18, part of a mid-term evaluation of the National Program for greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy standards for light-duty cars and trucks, and covering model years 2022-2025. It shows that automotive manufacturers' innovations will be able to meet the 2022-2025 standards, and that the standards can be achieved by relying mainly on advanced gasoline vehicles at similar or even lower cost than anticipated in 2012.
"Today's draft report shows that automakers are developing far more technologies to improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, at similar or lower costs, than we thought possible just a few years ago. And they are adopting these fuel-saving technologies into their fleets even faster than anticipated," said Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "This is simply great news for consumers, manufacturers, workers, and the climate."
"Automakers have already implemented new technologies that are saving American drivers money and cut national fuel consumption and carbon emissions today," said National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Dr. Mark Rosekind. "The draft report supports that the administration's fuel economy program can continue to incentivize innovation and reduce fuel consumption while also ensuring that consumers can continue to choose the vehicles they want to drive. The agencies welcome public comments to assist the agencies' analysis and decision making."
The National Program was developed jointly by the EPA and DOT, in coordination with CARB. It applies to passenger cars and light-duty trucks through model year 2025 and requires manufacturers to improve average fuel efficiency and reduce average greenhouse gas emissions over time. "After almost four years of close collaboration on the draft Technical Assessment Report with our federal partners, the conclusions are clear: Costs are lower for many technologies than we originally thought, market uptake is strong, and expected consumer benefits remain high," said CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols.
The draft report is the first of several steps the agencies will take as part of assessing the standards for new vehicles in the 2022-2025 model years.