Consumer Reports: 2025 Fuel Efficiency Targets Mean Big Savings

By 2025, the official average fuel efficiency of cars in the U.S. will be 54.5 miles per gallon, as established last year with an update of federal efficiency standards known as C.A.F.E. This equates to real-world mileage in the low-40-mpg range—a big jump from today’s average fuel economy around 24 miles per gallon. Despite fears that the increase in fuel efficiency will be too costly for consumers, Consumer Reports last week issued a 27-page report showing how the change will save consumers thousands of dollars over the lifetime that a car is owned.

Because the efficiency will increase estimated costs of the vehicle by less than $2,000—and the change will mean about $700 in annual savings at the pump—most consumers will come out ahead within about three years. CR said consumers could expect to save about $7,300 in fuel costs, and reap a net savings of over $4,600 during the full period ownership.

The cumulative effects, economically and environmentally, are significant. Americans will save approximately 30 billion gallons of gasoline each year by 2025. The net benefits, compared only to the targets now set for 2016, have been estimated between $326 billion and $451 billion over the lifetime of the new vehicles. These values were determined with a conservative estimate that a gallon of gasoline will cost $3.87 in 2025. If the price goes higher, the savings will increase.

The improvements are also estimated to save nearly 2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide, as well as reduction of other air pollutants.

While today’s car buyers are increasingly deciding to drive cutting-edge hybrid and electric vehicles—which generally cost more than comparable gas-powered cars—Consumer Reports stated that the 2025 standards could be achieved using existing technology. In other words, new C.A.F.E. standards will meaning that every car on the road—whether powered by gas, diesel, biofuels, electricity or hydrogen—will be much more efficient, just as safe as today’s cars, and much greener.

Article by Brad Berman, appearing courtesy ebay Green Driving