Sport utility vehicles and pick-up trucks will have to go further on a gallon of petrol over the next four years under new US government fuel efficiency standards released on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
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The Transportation Department reportedly confirmed that by 2011, light trucks, such as minivans, must get 24.1 miles per gallon, 1.9 mpg more than the 2007 target. And for the first time, the biggest SUVs, like the Hummer H2, will be subject to fuel efficiency requirements.
Reuters noted that the largest pick-ups are exempt from the standards because they are considered work trucks, not used for everyday driving. Passenger cars were not considered under the new standards, and their target remains 27.5 mpg.
Meeting the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for light trucks will cost the industry an estimated $6.7 billion and raise the average cost of a light truck by about $200, the report said. But the Bush administration says the standards will cut oil consumption without harming struggling US automakers.
According to Reuters, the government said the additional cost to the price of a light truck should be recouped over a couple of years through fuel savings. There are an estimated 8.5 million on the road.
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By GlobalDataEnvironmental and consumer groups told the news agency the administration fell way short of what is needed because the energy savings would be negligible at best over time.
And Eric Haxthausen, an economist with the group Environmental Defense, reportedly said that excluding the largest pick-ups was unfair because they are driven for commuting and personal trips as well as for business.
At a news conference, transportation secretary Norman Mineta noted the “fragile state” of American carmakers — for example, GM lost $10.6 billion last year – but said the industry could adjust, according to the report.
He said the target was achievable given available technology and a four-year phase-in, Reuters added.
The news agency said the standards were revised from a proposal last August largely as a result of Hurricane Katrina’s disruption of fuel production, which drove up prices. “Seven short months have taught us we can save more fuel,” Mineta reportedly said.
He said the Transportation Department reviewed automakers’ production plans and alternative fuel technology like hybrids before deciding on the standards, Reuters said.
“It is going to be a challenge for automakers to meet it, but automakers are committed to achieving these numbers as part of their commitment to energy security,” Eron Shosteck, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, told the news agency, which added that some consumer and environmental groups said the plan weakens the efficiency of some US-made vehicles.
