Fuel Efficiency Standards Set For Big Rigs
DETROIT (WWJ) - In two years, heavy-duty trucks will have to cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy, announced on Tuesday by the Obama administration.
The new federal fuel efficiency rules include everything from fire trucks to dump trucks to tractor trailers, reported WWJ Newsradio 950's Greg Bowman. The Obama administration said the move will help the environment and save consumers money.
According to a released from the White House, American businesses under the new standards will save "approximately $50 billion in fuel costs over the life of the program."
The statement went on to say that under the plan, oil consumption would be reduced "by a projected 530 million barrels and greenhouse gas pollution by approximately 270 million metric tons."
Last month, President Obama announced a deal with automakers to double all fuel economy to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, starting in model year 2017.
Those within in the auto industry consider a 54.5 mile per gallon fuel economy standard a stretch, but say it's better than the 56.2 mile per gallon standard the administration had been talking about. Many environmentalists had been seeking a standard topping 60 miles per gallon.
"We're saving money at the gas pump, we're curbing global warming pollution that causes climate change and we're cutting our dependence on oil," said Brendan Bell with the Union of Concerned Scientists Clean Vehicles Program.
The new standards will apply to model years 2014 to 2018.
