U.S. drivers will save $68 billion in fuel costs by 2030 thanks to the Obama administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard, according to a report by the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Last year, the Obama administration proposed a plan for CAFE standards for each auto manufacturer to reach 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. The NRDC, which is a non-profit organization, estimates that the average American driver will enjoy a savings of about $4,400 over the lifespan of their car thanks to those increased fuel efficiency and greenhouse-gas-emissions standards.
With gasoline prices around $4.00 per gallon, and continued instability in oil-producing regions such as the Middle East, the report explains how many Americans are already seeking ways to help alleviate the impact on their budgets. A major component of that is purchasing more fuel-efficient vehicles.
Fuel economy has become such an important factor for new buyers, and it would appear automakers too are paying close attention. More efficient engines are paramount not only to meeting stringent standards proposed by the government, but key in attracting new and return customers as well.
Aside from purchasing a hybrid or electric vehicle, the study points to the wide array of vehicle manufactures already implementing new fuel-saving technology into existing models in preparation for the increased standards. Ford has implemented its EcoBoost engine technology into cars like the Focus, Fusion, and Taurus, while General Motor’s e-Assist, found on various models including the mid-size Malibu, also aids in improving overall fleet fuel-efficiency.
According to NRDC, there are already 57 models sold in the U.S. now that can be considered “fuel efficient,” up from 27 models in 2009. Some of those include the Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta, and Chevrolet Sonic, all of which get over 30 miles per gallon.
“This study should put to rest any notion that drivers have to sacrifice anything [in order] to get more miles to the gallon,” said Alan Baum, principle with Baum and Associates who contributed to the analysis, in a statement. “From pickups to SUVs to minivans to cars…the internal combustion engine is far from dead; it’s just going through a major makeover.”
To help illustrate their point, the report shows how a six-cylinder 2010 Ford Explorer would achieve about 16 mpg, while four-cylinder 2012 Explorer is rated at about 23 mpg, potentially saving owners $5,700 over five years of driving when all is said and done.
Of course, it’s difficult to guess what average fuel prices will sit at nearly twenty years from now, but according the NRDC’s report, the states that will benefit the most from the government proposed standards are Texas ($7.8 billion), California ($7.3 billion), and Florida ($6.7 billion).
To read the full report, click here.
[Image credit: Shutterstock/Monkey Business Images]
The ONLY PEOPLE who believe this crap are those that have ZERO knowledge of physics.
You can’t wave your hand and magically make MPG double.
There is a finite amount of energy in gasoline, which can be used to push a piston, and turned into linear motion to turn the wheels with a specific weight vehicle.
There is a reason why MPG has not really gone up much since the 1980s….. PHYSICS.
Until we stop using cars made of metal, internal combustion engines, and gasoline, nothing will change.
Since the 1980′s mostly all they have done is reduce the weight of the cars using as much plastic as possible, experimented with aluminum engine blocks instead of steel, etc…that is where the changes in MPG have come from.
MPG is not going to get any better unless we start making cars out of cardboard or something.
You’re pretty much wrong there…… Modern engines are only about 20-30% efficient, increasing the efficiency of the engines will harness more power from the fuel and create more HP per liter of displacement – increasing fuel economy. Yes, decreasing the weight of the cars will help a lot, because the more a car weighs, the more power the engine needs to provide…… but we can only lighten cars so much before they become unusable and unsafe for normal operation under today’s conditions.
This seems great, but doesn’t anyone else think that if as we start driving more fuel efficient cars, and decreasing our consumption of oil, the oil companies are just going to increase their prices/profit margin so they can still meet their profit expectations with a decreased volume in sales. In fact, we are already seeing that trend right now.
I am in no way arguing that we shouldn’t strive to have more fuel efficient vehicles, (I think we have to, and it is in out best long term interests) I just thinks that it is a bit naive to think that we are going to realize any sort of long term savings in fuel costs as long as we rely on gas.
The question really isn’t “if” we start driving…cause that still implies the general public can even begin to afford buying new, more fuel efficient, cars.
It’s more of a when, and by when, it’s actually not anytime soon.