Fuel Economy

Close-up of car tailpipe emitting white smoke

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.

August 3, 2023 - The New York Times

Coronavirus Streets

Cities Should Take Advantage of Low Car Traffic to Accelerate Transit Construction

Beverly Hills is taking advantage of empty streets by accelerating construction on the Purple Line Subway extension currently cutting its way across Los Angeles. More cities should follow Beverly Hills' lead.

April 2, 2020 - James Brasuell

Folsom Car Culture

Coming Soon: Trump's Revised Fuel Efficiency Standards

The Trump administration has submitted revised fuel efficiency standards to the White House Office of Management and Budget for a final review. If approved, the rule would overturn a key environmental initiative of the Obama administration.

January 23, 2020 - The Detroit News

Gas Station 7-Eleven

Who's Advocating Rolling Back Fuel Economy Standards?

Conventional thinking is that the auto industry, wanting to sell more fuel-gulping SUVs, are pushing for weaker fuel economy standards, but Hiroko Tabuchi, climate reporter for The New York Times, exposes Big Oil's stealth campaign.

December 17, 2018 - The New York Times

Folsom Car Culture

Trump Administration's Error-Riddled Fuel-Economy Rules

The official case for repealing car fuel-economy rules is so full of errors it will be hard to defend in court.

November 5, 2018 - The Atlantic

President of the United States

Trump Administration Clashes on Vehicle Emissions Standards Rollback

It's the U.S. EPA, under the new acting administrator, against two top officers in the Department of Transportation. Both agencies (along with California) determine fuel efficiency standards. Guess which wants to proceed cautiously in the rollback?

July 31, 2018 - The New York Times

Renewable Diesel

California and Auto Industry Agree on Vehicle Emissions Standards

Normally having the California Air Resources Board and the auto industry in agreement on emissions standards would be enough, but the Trump administration wants to ensure that California plays no role in setting standards.

June 11, 2018 - Bloomberg News

Gas Pump

Rising Gas Prices: A Reminder That Supply Alone Won't Bring Energy Security

Memorial Day gas prices are the highest since 2014, The rising price of gas has already negated the tax savings from last year's tax cuts bill for low-income Americans. Retaining fuel economy standards would increase energy security.

May 29, 2018 - The Fuse

Tailpipe

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.

May 3, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Oil Rigs

Global Reverberations from EPA Rollback of Fuel Economy Standards

Relaxed U.S. fuel economy standards, as Environmental Protection Administration chief Scott Pruitt announced on April 2, would have effects extending far beyond the United States.

April 27, 2018 - The New York Times

Tesla

More Bad News for Tesla—This Time From the EPA

A rollback of fuel economy standards carries huge financial consequences for the all-electric vehicle manufacturer that makes over $300 million annually by selling credits to auto manufacturers unable to achieve current fuel economy standards.

April 4, 2018 - Vox

Rural Traffic

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.

April 3, 2018 - Bloomberg Politics

Carpool Lane Sticker

April 1 Showdown Between U.S. EPA and California Looms

At stake are greenhouse gas emission standards for 2022-25 model year passenger vehicles. Relaxing these standards would likely doom efforts to reduce these emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 as required by 2016 state legislation.

March 15, 2018 - Bloomberg News via Los Angeles Times

Empty Carpool Lane

Climate Challenge: Not Enough EVs or Too Many SUVs?

Both are problems, but globally, sports utility vehicles sales are proliferating far faster than cars, be they electric or petrol-powered, posing a major challenge for governments committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

March 5, 2018 - The New York Times - Climate

Vermont SUV

New Hampshire Bills Target Vehicles That Don't Guzzle Enough Fuel

Two bills target hybrid and electric vehicles and even fuel efficient vehicles with new registration fees to increase road funding, as nine states did last year. However, many of those states also hiked gas taxes in the same legislation.

January 5, 2018 - New Hampshire Public Radio

4-Wheeling

Can I Have a Diet Coke With That Ice Cream Sundae?

Essentially that's what UC Davis, Yale, and MIT researchers found among California families who purchase very fuel efficient vehicles—they also pair them with gas hogs. If your family owns two vehicles, do you meet the profile?

October 3, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

405 Traffic

Lowest Gas Prices in 12 Years Contribute to Record Travel This Holiday Weekend

Two new reports on transportation funding issued in advance of the July 4th weekend focus attention on gas prices and vehicle travel. Seven states will increase gas taxes on July 1 according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

June 30, 2017 - Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

Electric Cars

Electric Vehicle Fees: Where's the Controversy?

Some may find it silly to get worked up over an annual fee of about $100 to pay for road maintenance when electric vehicle purchasers receive a $7,500 federal tax credit, on top of generous state perks, but electric vehicle supporters object to them.

March 9, 2017 - Vox

Energy and Environmental Regulations Under Attack—by Congress

Two environmental regulations enacted by the Obama Administration are expected to be rescinded under the Congressional Review Act: the Stream Protection Rule that protects water from mountaintop coal mining and limits on flaring methane emissions.

February 2, 2017 - NPR

EPA Rejects Automakers' Bid to Reduce Fuel Economy Standards in Midterm Review

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ruled that existing technology allows for increased efficiency in model years 2022 to 2025. The 2011 rule to achieve 54.5 mpg by 2025 required a 'midterm evaluation' to see if the final target was achievable.

January 18, 2017 - The Washington Post - Energy and Environment

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