A new energy law requires requires the fleetwide average of new cars and trucks to be 35 miles per gallon by 2020. But Tuesday, the Department of Transportation
announced a more aggressive schedule:
For passenger cars, the proposal would increase fuel economy from the current
27.5 miles per gallon to 35.7 miles per gallon by 2015. For light trucks, the
proposal calls for increases from 23.5 miles per gallon in 2010 to 28.6 miles
per gallon in 2015.
All told, the proposal will save nearly 55 billion gallons of fuel and a
reduction in carbon dioxide emissions estimated at 521 million metric tons.
The agency has posted Transportation Secretary Mary Peter's
remarks about the proposal.
Go to a used car lot. How hard is it for car dealers to sell eight-cylinder trucks and gas-guzzling muscle cars? Are people who trade them in getting hammered on the trade-in value?
This government site enables you to keep track of your fuel economy and compare it to Environmental Protection Agency tests. The site also tells you
how driving habits affect fuel economy -- and why the mileage you get isn't always what is posted on the window sticker.
