NHTSA Plots Increases in Fuel Economy

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently completed its proposal for yearly increases in fuel economy standards and submitted it to the White House Office of Management and Budget for a standard review.

In the proposal, NHTSA outlines step-by-step increases for fuel economy standards, beginning with the 2011 model year for cars and the 2012 model year for light trucks.

The goal is to reach 35 mpg for automakers’ entire fleet, and the starting point is a fleet average of 27.5. The NHTSA proposal would take four years of raising the standards incrementally, with “maximum feasible” yearly requirements.

Although the proposal may be altered by the OMB, NHTSA expects to make the complete document public by April for comment before the final draft of the new regulations is issued by the end of 2008. 

Feds Hammer Out Yearly Rises in Fuel Economy (Detroit News)