The Obama administration and U.S. automakers have agreed on a new fuel economy standard that would require cars and light trucks to achieve an average of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, a target that officials say will reduce U.S. fuel consumption 40 percent below today’s levels and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent.
Sources familiar with the negotiations told the Washington Post that the new standards would require a 5 percent annual improvement in mileage standards for cars between 2017 and 2025, while trucks must improve 3.5 percent annually between 2017 and 2021, and 5 percent per year from 2022 to 2025.
Last year, the U.S. Transportation Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set a mileage standard goal of 47 to 62 mpg.
In 2010, U.S. cars and trucks averaged 28.3 miles per gallon.
The White House said it will unveil details of the new program on Friday.
Article appearing courtesy Yale Environment 360.
