News

May 25, 2009

Obama Goes For Cleaner Fuel

By Sally White

President Obama’s announcement last week of new tough fuel economy standards for American cars resolves a long-standing federal-state political arm-wrestle and makes a major contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in one of the biggest emitter nations over the next decade.

The measure unveiled by the US President effectively brings forward by four years Bush-era regulations that required carmakers to deliver average fuel economy across their vehicle fleets of 35 miles per gallon, up from a current 25 mpg. A benchmark of 35.5 mpg (6.62 litres/100km) will now be required by 2016 and will bring US national standards into line with those California and 14 other states have been trying to implement for up to seven years in come cases.

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