Obama to Order Fuel Efficiency Standards for Heavy-Duty Trucks
May 24, 2010
President Obama plans to announce Friday that he will direct federal agencies to set policies that would for the first time increase fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, Bloomberg reported.
The rules would take effect beginning in 2017, Bloomberg said, citing an administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Obama also will direct agencies to begin working on fuel efficiency and emissions standards for cars and light trucks, Bloomberg reported. Current auto and light-truck regulations expire in six years.
The standards would be developed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation.
The order is aimed at fitting in the administration’s energy goals of reducing oil imports, boosting development of electric and alternative fuel vehicles and reducing emissions linked to climate change, Bloomberg said, citing the official.
The directive follows an April 1 announcement that set requirements to raise U.S. automobile fuel-economy standards by about 30%, Bloomberg reported.
That mandate requires manufacturers to achieve an average in corporate average fuel economy, or CAFE, of 35.5 miles per gallon for 2016 model-year cars and light trucks, up from 27.3 mpg in 2011.
