Using greater efficiency to reduce fuel consumption
Obama signed an executive order today calling for the federal government to require auto makers to build cars and trucks with greater fuel efficiency.
The executive memorandum the president signed on Friday orders the Environmental Protection Agency and the Transportation Department to develop new fuel and emissions standards more strict than those formalized last month, but the memorandum did not propose specific fuel-economy figures.
Under last month’s rules, new cars must get at least 35.5 miles to a gallon of fuel, on average, by 2016, in combined city and highway driving. The president’s new plan would order further improvements in fuel efficiency for cars and light trucks made in 2017 and beyond, and in medium and heavy trucks made in 2014 through 2018.
The order also calls for the government to provide more support for electric cars. That’s where I’m going to put my money — I want to buy an electric car as soon as cool, affordable models come out and cities deliver on the necessary re-fueling infrastructure.