Obama Admin. Finalizes New Efficiency Standards for Autos

America’s future is looking a little bit cleaner today, thanks to the clean car standards finalized today by the Obama administration. Under these standards, the fuel efficiency of cars will be doubled by 2025, the largest single step by the U.S. government to combat climate change.

The new standards require that by 2025, new cars and light trucks in model years 2017-2025 meet the average fleet fuel economy performance equivalent standard of 54.5 miles per gallon, which is almost double of the current standard requirement.

The new standards will reduce the carbon pollution from vehicles in the United States by 270 million metric tons and save 1.5 million barrels of oil a day, according to a joint analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Union of Concerned Scientists. This would be the same as removing the pollution of 40 million vehicles from the road today.

But the environment will not be the only beneficiary of these new standards. American consumers are expected to save more than $1.7 trillion at the gas pumps over the course of the lifetime of a 2025 vehicle.

These standards not only have broad public support, they also have the support of 13 major automobile manufacturers, responsible for 90% of the cars purchased in the U.S, according the Secretary of Transportation’s website.

These standards are a very positive step for the environment, our health, and the economy. In the words of EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, “The fuel efficiency standards the administration finalized today are another example of how we protect the environment and strengthen the economy at the same time.”