Washington – President Barack Obama announced a deal characterized by Detroit automakers as “overly aggressive” to halve greenhouse gas emissions.With a target of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, the under-the-hood changes will begin in model year 2017 to better today's fuel consumption of an average 27 miles per gallon.
The president said the changes should reduce American oil consumption by about 40%.
“Just as cars will go further on a gallon of gas, our economy will go further on a barrel of oil,” Mr. Obama said.
He characterized the new agreement on fuel standards as one that “represents the single most important step we have taken as a nation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”
Automakers estimated an $8,000 saving on fuel costs over the life of a vehicle, an economy that would result in filling the tank once every two weeks instead of every week.
Michigan lawmakers called the higher proposal "overly aggressive," after automakers had said they'd work to get vehicles averaging 42.6 to 46.7 miles per gallon. Green groups, meanwhile, had pushed for a 62 miles-per-gallon target by 2025.
About these little cars that will go forever on a gallon of white gas. Do they have to be blue, or can we have blue, too?
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