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Obama: Traveling by car in the U.S. about to get a little greener

May 21st, 2009

President Barack Obama has officially unveiled plans to curb vehicle emissions with new fuel efficiency standards for cars in the States. His agenda will call for hybrid cars and light trucks that will be 40% cleaner and more fuel efficient by 2016, raising the minimum passenger-vehicle consumption allowance to 39 miles per gallon.

Car travel, especially across the States via smog-infested super-highways cluttered with gas-guzzling, unkempt vehicles, is a sore spot on America’s ongoing addiction to fossil fuel.

For years, the auto industry has been at odds with environmentalists and individual states over fuel standards. Thirteen states, led by California, have been pressing the Government to allow them to impose stricter standards on vehicles.

Of course, these demands were repeatedly blocked by the errant Bush Administration.

This week, however, a new horizon just may be beaming with pride over the twisting, blacktop landscape. The Obama administration proposed regulations that will force automakers to green up their act, allowing US car manufacturers, environmentalists and lawmakers to reach a landmark agreement on setting auto efficiency standards for cars and light trucks.

“For the first time in history, we have set in motion a national policy aimed at both increasing gas mileage and decreasing greenhouse gas pollution for all new trucks and cars sold in the United States,” said President Barack Obama.

Beginning with vehicles made in 2012, the administration is calling for more hybrid cars and light trucks that will be 40% cleaner and more fuel efficient by 2016 – the mathematical equivalent to removing 177 million cars off the road within seven years, shutting 194 coal-fired power stations and saving 1.8 billion barrels of oil and achieve cuts of 900 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

This new plan marks the biggest and boldest move to date by the U.S. Government to rid America of its “addiction” to foreign oil and cut greenhouse gas emissions. By 2016, the savings in oil would amount to last year’s US imports from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Libya and Nigeria combined.

The target date of 2016 is also 4 years prior to the required emissions-reduction date according to federal law.

The cost of fuel economy

The new rules state that, by 2016, passenger cars will be required to hold a minimum fuel efficiency of 39 MPG - cutting passenger-vehicle emissions by 30% – while light trucks will raise to 30 MPG.

While the initial jump in overall consumer cost would initially be an approximate $1300 per vehicle, drivers would be offsetting this price hike at the gas pump – saving around $2800 over the vehicle’s lifetime in fuel costs.

“The fact is, everyone wins,” said President Obama. ” Consumers pay less for fuel, which means less money going overseas and more money to save or spend here at home.”

Car industry reactions, some government opposition

With one nationwide set of rules in place, as opposed to having to meet the legal criteria state-by-state, automakers have agreed to drop all pending lawsuits against emission standards.

In accordance with this new plan, a bill currently in front of Congress will offer automakers Ford, Chrysler and GM an additional $50 billion in aid/bailout money to help the struggling companies reevaluate their infrastructure to build better, more fuel efficient vehicles.

This bill is currently facing stiff Republican opposition – the party cites expensive emissions caps and government-funded research incentives as its battleground.

Read more about: Barack Obama, cars, Congress, emissions, fossil fuel, fuel, hybrid, Obama, transportation

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S

This is good news, cars are a major source of pollution and carbon emissions in our country. By making them more fuel efficient it will help in many ways. While this is an upside, I still feel that while it is good to have money from the government to build these more efficient cars it makes me wonder. If the government wants to curb even more emissions and make our country even greener they should be also putting money into such programs as rideshare or into ailing railroad systems and public transportation infrastructures. But perhaps that is just me. This is a step in the right direction and we here at the University of Vermont Global Sustainability Institute (http://learn.uvm.edu/igs) we feel that when each person has a responsibility for positive change for the earth.
S

This is good news, cars are a major source of pollution and carbon emissions in our country. By making them more fuel efficient it will help in many ways. While this is an upside, I still feel that while it is good to have money from the government to build these more efficient cars it makes me wonder. If the government wants to curb even more emissions and make our country even greener they should be also putting money into such programs as rideshare or into ailing railroad systems and public transportation infrastructures. But perhaps that is just me. This is a step in the right direction and we here at the University of Vermont Global Sustainability Institute (http://learn.uvm.edu/igs) we feel that when each person has a responsibility for positive change for the earth.
S

This is good news, cars are a major source of pollution and carbon emissions in our country. By making them more fuel efficient it will help in many ways. While this is an upside, I still feel that while it is good to have money from the government to build these more efficient cars it makes me wonder. If the government wants to curb even more emissions and make our country even greener they should be also putting money into such programs as rideshare or into ailing railroad systems and public transportation infrastructures. But perhaps that is just me. This is a step in the right direction and we here at the University of Vermont Global Sustainability Institute (http://learn.uvm.edu/igs) we feel that when each person has a responsibility for positive change for the earth.
jascanio

It's funny that you mention “putting money into such programs as rideshare or into ailing railroad systems and public transportation infrastructures”. In fact, the Obama administration is planning to do just that – take a look at this link: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/21/obama-plan…A quick excerpt:”The Obama administration is setting some pretty ambitious goals with new high-speed passenger rail lines in over 10 regions across the country; connecting major urban centers while reducing travel times, emissions and energy consumption.”“With clogged highways and overburdened airports, economic growth is suffering,” said President Obama. “What we need, then, is a smart transportation system equal to the needs of the 21st century, a system that reduces travel times and increases mobility, a system that reduces congestion and boosts productivity, a system that reduces destructive emissions and creates jobs.”
jascanio

It's funny that you mention “putting money into such programs as rideshare or into ailing railroad systems and public transportation infrastructures”. In fact, the Obama administration is planning to do just that – take a look at this link: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/21/obama-plan…A quick excerpt:”The Obama administration is setting some pretty ambitious goals with new high-speed passenger rail lines in over 10 regions across the country; connecting major urban centers while reducing travel times, emissions and energy consumption.”“With clogged highways and overburdened airports, economic growth is suffering,” said President Obama. “What we need, then, is a smart transportation system equal to the needs of the 21st century, a system that reduces travel times and increases mobility, a system that reduces congestion and boosts productivity, a system that reduces destructive emissions and creates jobs.”
jascanio

It's funny that you mention “putting money into such programs as rideshare or into ailing railroad systems and public transportation infrastructures”. In fact, the Obama administration is planning to do just that – take a look at this link: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/21/obama-plan…

A quick excerpt:
“The Obama administration is setting some pretty ambitious goals with new high-speed passenger rail lines in over 10 regions across the country; connecting major urban centers while reducing travel times, emissions and energy consumption.”

“With clogged highways and overburdened airports, economic growth is suffering,” said President Obama. “What we need, then, is a smart transportation system equal to the needs of the 21st century, a system that reduces travel times and increases mobility, a system that reduces congestion and boosts productivity, a system that reduces destructive emissions and creates jobs.”
jascanio

It's funny that you mention “putting money into such programs as rideshare or into ailing railroad systems and public transportation infrastructures”. In fact, the Obama administration is planning to do just that – take a look at this link: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/21/obama-plan…

A quick excerpt:
“The Obama administration is setting some pretty ambitious goals with new high-speed passenger rail lines in over 10 regions across the country; connecting major urban centers while reducing travel times, emissions and energy consumption.”

“With clogged highways and overburdened airports, economic growth is suffering,” said President Obama. “What we need, then, is a smart transportation system equal to the needs of the 21st century, a system that reduces travel times and increases mobility, a system that reduces congestion and boosts productivity, a system that reduces destructive emissions and creates jobs.”
jascanio

It's funny that you mention “putting money into such programs as rideshare or into ailing railroad systems and public transportation infrastructures”. In fact, the Obama administration is planning to do just that – take a look at this link: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/21/obama-plan…

A quick excerpt:
“The Obama administration is setting some pretty ambitious goals with new high-speed passenger rail lines in over 10 regions across the country; connecting major urban centers while reducing travel times, emissions and energy consumption.”

“With clogged highways and overburdened airports, economic growth is suffering,” said President Obama. “What we need, then, is a smart transportation system equal to the needs of the 21st century, a system that reduces travel times and increases mobility, a system that reduces congestion and boosts productivity, a system that reduces destructive emissions and creates jobs.”
http://electricandhybridcar.com/ Jerry

Where have you been, that is 35 miles per gallon by 2016. It is ho hum when we can do so much more and are. In 1948 the tucker got 35mpg. So in 7years we will catch up to 1948. C work.
http://electricandhybridcar.com/ Jerry

Where have you been, that is 35 miles per gallon by 2016. It is ho hum when we can do so much more and are. In 1948 the tucker got 35mpg. So in 7years we will catch up to 1948. C work.
http://electricandhybridcar.com/ Jerry

Where have you been, that is 35 miles per gallon by 2016. It is ho hum when we can do so much more and are. In 1948 the tucker got 35mpg. So in 7years we will catch up to 1948. C work.
jascanio

Good point, Jerry. However, to play devil's advocate, keep in mind that the 35 mpg benchmark is a MINIMUM, as compared to today's 25 mpg level. As is, we have hybrids boasting gas mileage upwards of 5-55 mpg. With the new minimum in place, I think competitive advantage will come into play and drive the number far higher than 35.
jascanio

Good point, Jerry. However, to play devil's advocate, keep in mind that the 35 mpg benchmark is a MINIMUM, as compared to today's 25 mpg level. As is, we have hybrids boasting gas mileage upwards of 5-55 mpg. With the new minimum in place, I think competitive advantage will come into play and drive the number far higher than 35.
jascanio

Good point, Jerry. However, to play devil's advocate, keep in mind that the 35 mpg benchmark is a MINIMUM, as compared to today's 25 mpg level. As is, we have hybrids boasting gas mileage upwards of 5-55 mpg. With the new minimum in place, I think competitive advantage will come into play and drive the number far higher than 35.
S

This is good news, cars are a major source of pollution and carbon emissions in our country. By making them more fuel efficient it will help in many ways. While this is an upside, I still feel that while it is good to have money from the government to build these more efficient cars it makes me wonder. If the government wants to curb even more emissions and make our country even greener they should be also putting money into such programs as rideshare or into ailing railroad systems and public transportation infrastructures. But perhaps that is just me. This is a step in the right direction and we here at the University of Vermont Global Sustainability Institute (http://learn.uvm.edu/igs) we feel that when each person has a responsibility for positive change for the earth.
http://www.terracurve.com Joe Ascanio

It's funny that you mention “putting money into such programs as rideshare or into ailing railroad systems and public transportation infrastructures”. In fact, the Obama administration is planning to do just that – take a look at this link: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/21/obama-plan…

A quick excerpt:
“The Obama administration is setting some pretty ambitious goals with new high-speed passenger rail lines in over 10 regions across the country; connecting major urban centers while reducing travel times, emissions and energy consumption.”

“With clogged highways and overburdened airports, economic growth is suffering,” said President Obama. “What we need, then, is a smart transportation system equal to the needs of the 21st century, a system that reduces travel times and increases mobility, a system that reduces congestion and boosts productivity, a system that reduces destructive emissions and creates jobs.”
http://electricandhybridcar.com/ Jerry

Where have you been, that is 35 miles per gallon by 2016. It is ho hum when we can do so much more and are. In 1948 the tucker got 35mpg. So in 7years we will catch up to 1948. C work.
http://www.terracurve.com Joe Ascanio

Good point, Jerry. However, to play devil's advocate, keep in mind that the 35 mpg benchmark is a MINIMUM, as compared to today's 25 mpg level. As is, we have hybrids boasting gas mileage upwards of 5-55 mpg. With the new minimum in place, I think competitive advantage will come into play and drive the number far higher than 35.