New Fuel Efficiency Rules Finalized

&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668670963,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_01_47_634_http___blogs_cars_com__a_6a00d83451b3c669e20133ec6274ad970b_800wi”,”name”:”MMS ID 48231 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/50/-2143712153-1425510107750.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:01:47″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/50/-2143712153-1425510107750.”,”description”:”Came from http://blogs.cars.com/.a/6a00d83451b3c669e20133ec6274ad970b-800wi”,”externalid”:”48231″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511454894,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&

The Transportation Department and the Environmental Protection Agency signed the final rules today requiring 2016 model year vehicles to meet fuel-efficiency standards of 35.5 mpg for cars and trucks combined. This move has been anticipated for a while and marks an increase of nearly 10 mpg over current standards.

The EPA will also regulate tailpipe emissions for the first time, after attaining that power from a 2007 Supreme Court ruling. The EPA set the emission standard at 8.75 ounces (250 grams) of carbon dioxide per mile for vehicles sold in 2016. This is the equivalent for a vehicle meeting the mileage standard.

The Obama administration estimates this will save 1.8 billion barrels of oil from the 2012-16 model years, and even though it will add about $1,000 per vehicle, it is also expected to save consumers $3,000 at the gas pump over the life of the car.

The ruling will affect automakers differently. Companies that build more small cars will have a higher target than those that have a more diverse lineup of cars and trucks. Automakers can also receive credits toward the efficiency standard by cutting greenhouse gas emissions in other ways, such as preventing coolant from leaking out of air conditioners.

New Fuel Efficiency Rules Require 35.5 MPG Average by 2016 (USA Today)