Groups urge U.S. to set 60 mpg standard by 2025

Trade the News

Thursday September 09, 2010 11:43:19 PM GMT

* Obama admin readying proposal on fuel, carbon standards

* New rules would take effect beginning in 2017

By John Crawley

WASHINGTON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. government should sharply increase fuel efficiency requirements on cars and trucks by requiring a 60 mile-per-gallon standard by 2025, leading environmental and science groups said on Thursday.

The coalition led by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Sierra Club, and more than a dozen other interests also pressured the Obama administration to set strong targets to reduce carbon pollution as the auto industry expands hybrid and electric vehicle technology.

The administration is expected later this month to roll out separate proposals on mileage and tailpipe emissions for domestic and foreign vehicles sold in the United States between 2017 and 2025. U.S. officials have not yet indicated what those new standards will be.

Many cars in the United States already meet or exceed the 2017 standards, but automakers chaffed at the call to nearly double mileage targets so soon after the current rules were put in place.

"We should base policy on science and expert reviews of all the factors, like affordability of technology, availability of low-carbon fuels and the state of the electric imfrastructure," said Dave McCurdy, president of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the top industry trade group.

Standards imposed last year require that cars and light trucks -- including sport utilities, pickups and vans -- get 35.5 mpg by 2016, up 42 percent from current requirements.

But environmental and scientific experts believe that was too modest of an interim step, and that 60 mpg could be reached with existing engine and hybrid electric technologies.

"That number may sound bold, but it's achievable," NRDC Executive Director Peter Lehner wrote in a blog on Thursday.

U.S. passenger vehicles emit about 20 percent of the nation's carbon emissions and consume about 44 percent of its oil.

President Barack Obama has made improved auto efficiency a centerpiece of an energy agenda geared toward reducing oil imports and embracing new technologies.

The goal of the environmental and scientific coalition aims to reduce oil dependence by nearly 50 billion gallons annually and carbon pollution by more than 500 metric tons each year by 2030.

The group believes auto companies still lag on fuel economy and that much stronger standards will accelerate adoption of cleaner and more efficient engines, transmissions and vehicle designs that incorporate lighter weight and stronger construction materials.

Automakers are moving quickly to increase the efficiency of their vehicles, including through new hybrid designs. General Motors Co is set to roll out its first electric-powered sedan, the Volt, later this year.

Toyota Motor Co is the global leader in fuel economy with its hybrid Prius. But other companies such as Honda Motor Co, have made solid gains with hybrid engines. Ford Motor Co has also made measurable gains in efficiency.

European automakers Volkswagen, Peugeot SA, Renault, however, have outpaced the U.S. on fuel economy with a smaller overall vehicle class. For instance, average fuel economy of the Peugeot 207 diesel is 58.9 mpg. (Reporting by John Crawley; Editing by Richard Chang)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. Click For Restrictions. http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp