The End of the Gas Guzzler

Hugh Pickens writes "Michael Grunwald reports that President Obama will announce today a near-doubling of fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks, and the Big Three automakers — GM, Ford and Chrysler — will support it in a final deal that will require vehicle fleets to average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, which will reduce fuel consumption by 40% and carbon emissions by 50%. Although environmentalists had pushed for 60 mpg and the White House had floated a compromise of 56.2, 54.5 is pretty close, considering that last year's standards were only 28.3. 'I might point out that the same auto industry that ran attack ads about how 56.2 would destroy their businesses and force everyone to drive electric cars has embraced 54.5 as an achievable target,' writes Grunwald. 'It almost makes you wonder if the automakers may have exaggerated the costs of compliance, the way they always do.'"

Comments

Punishment for enjoying speed?

[SeeSp0tRun]

I have voiced this before, but what about those of us who have, enjoy, and can afford vehicles that don't get great fuel econ, go fast as hell, and are generally fun to drive? I can afford my premium fuel, I only get ~20mpg, and my car does what I like my car to do: handle well and go fast.

Why should I be forced into an EV, which takes a month and a half to hit 60mph? It kind of reminds me of iRobot, where he has the bike kept in a storage unit, and the girl is confused because it runs on... wait for it... gas!