Industry Likes Long-Term MPG Plan - DUH! and Why Shouldn't They?

SEE ALSO: U.S. Auto Energy Policy Needs Bold; President Obama Gives Us Same Old (Originally Published May 19, 2009)

Washington DC May 25, 2010; The AIADA newsletter reported that according to Automotive News, President Barack Obama won praise from the auto industry last week when he outlined plans to come up with fuel economy standards for 2017-25 model cars and light trucks plus 2014-18 model medium and heavy-duty trucks and buses.

Automakers have pushed for a long-range program and said the process would continue the path to a single national program for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions. The companies have argued that they need long lead times to develop cost-effective technology.

Similarly, energy providers (Oil Companies?) have said they require time to expand infrastructure and availability of low-carbon fuels.

Automakers also lauded Obama for continuing a plan begun a year ago to create a single national program. Obama's long-term plan builds on rules set last month for 2012-16 light vehicles. They require average fleet fuel efficiency of 35.5 mpg by 2016. Last week the president also said he would begin development of an advanced infrastructure for plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles.

Obama did not specify any fuel efficiency goals. Instead, he set up a planning process involving the federal agencies, the industry, the states and environmental groups. The administration is to announce by September its plan to set light-vehicle standards.