GFEI partner comments on US fuel economy proposals for 2021-26
GFEI partner the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) has submitted its official comments in response to the notice of proposed rulemaking for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks that were issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule for Model Years 2021-2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks proposal would essentially hold the 2020 standards for new vehicles in place indefinitely. According to official federal analyses, the rollback will result in 73 billion gallons more gasoline bought by U.S. drivers and 800 million tons more carbon dioxide emissions. In contrast, the final rule adopted under the Obama Administration requires a 3%-4% increase in efficiency and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per mile per year through 2025. ICCT’s findings indicate that the proposed regulation is deeply flawed in terms of the information upon which it is based, the novel and unfounded methods used to prop up costs and reduce benefits, and the conclusions the agencies have drawn.