A new EPA report indicates that auto manufacturers will meet fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards relying largely on gasoline powered vehicles. Or will they? While likely to fall short of 54.5 mpg, they will come close enough.
Four years ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed to auto manufacturers' requests to perform a 'midterm evaluation' for meeting the rigorous 2025 fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission standards. The idea was to allow for the possibility of reducing the standards in the latter years should they prove too difficult to meet.
A draft report issued July 18 by EPA in coordination with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), shows there won't be a need for decreasing the 54.5 mpg goal.
"The draft TAR [Technical Assessment Report] shows that automotive manufacturers are innovating and bringing new technology to market at a rapid pace, and that they will be able to meet the MY [model year] 2022-2025 standards established in the 2012 rulemaking with a wide range of cost-effective technologies," states the announcement by the U.S Department of Transportation. [Italics added.].
Furthermore, they will be able to meet the standards without greater adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).
"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.”
The report "shows that the standards can be met largely with more efficient gasoline powered cars – we continue to project that only modest penetration of hybrids and only low levels of electric vehicles are needed to meet the standards," states the report's introductory webpage. [Italics added.]
View from EPA critics
The announcement omits stating that manufacturers will actually meet the 54.5 mpg standard by 2025.
"Even with all those positives, government officials said, the 54.5 mpg goal is off the table," reports Sharon Silke Carty, editor of Automotive News (paywall protected). "Lower gasoline prices have kept demand for SUVs, crossovers and other light trucks higher than originally anticipated, meaning the advances in fuel economy technology won’t be reflected fully in the fleet averages, which are sales-weighted."
Carty's article is referenced in an Auto Blog post, "Government abandons 54.5-mpg CAFE standard," by Brandon Turkus.
Hat tip to AASHTO Journal.
FULL STORY: EPA, DOT, and CARB Issue Report on 2022-2025 Vehicles Meeting Fuel Economy and GHG Emission Standards
California and 16 States Sue EPA Over Decision to Rollback Vehicle Emissions Rule
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt had announced the rollback of greenhouse gas emission and fuel economy standards on April 2. While the auto industry supports the move, not all auto executives agreed.
Rollback of Fuel Efficiency Standards Announced by EPA
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced Monday that his agency is siding with auto manufacturers and relaxing greenhouse gas emission standards for new cars and light trucks.
Federal Fuel Economy Rules Take Different Path than Emission Standards
The traditional approach for federal fuel economy and emissions standards is for the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency to propose regulations simultaneously. This year is different.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association