Responses to higher CAFE standard from Plug In America, Auto Alliance, more
In President Obama's speech this afternoon about the new 35.5 mpg CAFE standard for 2016, he made sure to emphasize the broad support for the new national rule. From the responses we're seeing around the web following the announcement, it's clear that he wasn't just expressing a hope that a broad coalition would come together. Everyone from the Auto Alliance to the Automotive X Prize has put out a statement in favor of the new rule. Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally said:
This national program will allow us to move forward toward final regulations that all stakeholders can support. We salute the cooperative efforts of the Obama Administration, the state of California, environmental groups and others that played a constructive role in this process.
Plug in America likes the increase so much, they've decided to take some of the credit for the move (see their statement after the jump). The Auto Alliance's Dave McCurdy wrote a column on Grist that starts with the words, "Today is a good day." With everyone so darn happy about this, what's the downside? I'm sure we'll start seeing the negatives expressed sooner rather than later. You got one?
[Source: Ford, PIA, Grist, White House]
Photo by Perantau Sepi Lodge. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.
PRESS RELEASES:
STATEMENT ON ONE NATIONAL STANDARD FOR FUEL ECONOMY
NOTE TO EDITOR: The following is a statement from Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally regarding President Barack Obama's announcement of one national standard for fuel economy:
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 19. – "We are pleased President Obama is taking decisive and positive action as we work together toward one national standard for vehicle fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions that will benefit the environment and the economy. Today's announcement signals the achievement of a crucial milestone – an agreement in principle on a national program for increased fuel economy and reduced greenhouse gases.
This national program will allow us to move forward toward final regulations that all stakeholders can support. We salute the cooperative efforts of the Obama Administration, the state of California, environmental groups and others that played a constructive role in this process.
The framework of the national program will give us greater clarity, certainty and flexibility to achieve the nation's goals. We will continue to work with the federal agencies to finalize the standards that we are committed to meeting."
Plug In America Claims Another Victory: Obama Calls for National Fuel Efficiency Standard
Advocacy Group Had Urged Obama to Take the Action
Great minds think alike -- in this case, President Barack Obama and members of Plug In America.
President Obama today announced a plan to extend California's vehicle emissions standards to the entire nation, following Plug In America's April 2009 campaign asking him to do just that.
When other environmental organizations simply were urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to grant California a waiver allowing it to adopt stricter tailpipe requirements than federal regulations, thousands of Plug In America supporters e-mailed the White House and the E.P.A. asking them to give all Americans the same tools to reduce pollution.
California is the only state that's allowed to set stricter tailpipe emissions regulations than the federal government, and other states can choose to follow California or federal regulations. At least 13 other states are set to adopt California's standards if a waiver is granted, which is expected to come from the E.P.A. in the next few months.
Now, however, all states will be required to meet vehicle emissions goals that are nearly identical to California's by 2016. The auto industry has signaled that it will drop lawsuits and other opposition to California's requirements in response to the federal action.
"Plug In America took it one step further than other environmental organizations because our members have been driving the plug-in cars and trucks that we know can clean up emissions much faster than most people realize," Plug In America co-founder and board member Sherry Boschert said Tuesday, "We are extremely pleased that President Obama also sees that we can accelerate change in the auto industry."
Plug In America, based in California, is the nation's leading nonprofit plug-in vehicle advocacy organization. It was instrumental in boosting federal economic stimulus funding for plug-in vehicles and infrastructure from $2 billion to $14.4 billion earlier this year.
"With this action and President Obama's pledge to put 1 million plug-in hybrids on the road by 2015, we are off to a good start," said Boschert, author of Plug-In Hybrids: The Cars that Will Recharge America. "Now we need to put the pedal to the metal and exceed those goals so we can rapidly get our country's transportation off of oil and reduce the climate crisis."
The New York Times reported that the effect of President Obama's announcement "will be a single new national standard that will create a U.S. car and light truck fleet that is almost 40 percent cleaner and more fuel-efficient by 2016 than it is today, with an average of 35.5 miles per gallon."
About Plug In America: Plug In America is leading the nation's plug-in vehicle movement. The nonprofit organization works to accelerate the shift to plug-in vehicles powered by clean, affordable, domestic electricity to reduce our nation's dependence on petroleum and improve the global environment. For more information: http://www.pluginamerica.org.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jon 3:58PM (5/19/2009)
There is one downside - it could result in a $1300 increase in the average cost of a car by 2016. I don't see this as particularly problematic though, as you'll more than likely make back that cost in the fuel you save over the lifetime of the car.
See here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8056908.stm
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Eletruk 5:17PM (5/19/2009)
It's interesting how a different administration will change what we can expect from the automakers. During the Bush administration, you could expect the auto industry to loudly complain about any adjustment to the CAFE standards, with claims like reduced safety, increased costs, etc, etc. Now with the Obama administration, the automakers have to face the fact that those complaints don't hold water. They certainly are capable of making cars that will meet the mileage requirements, and no amount of complaining will get them out of it. It's time for the auto industry to restructure, what worked for the last 75 years isn't going to work any more.
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Chad 5:04PM (5/19/2009)
Proverbs 22:7
The borrower is the slave of the lender
borrower=GM/Chrysler
lender=federal government
Serge 4:07PM (5/19/2009)
Amazing to see some of these stakeholders who fought tooth and nail against these regulations come around.
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Chad 5:01PM (5/19/2009)
Proverbs 22:7
The borrower is the slave of the lender
Matt 4:09PM (5/19/2009)
I wonder how they came up with that number... it really shouldn't cost more to make a car more fuel efficient. I would think it would cost less, just make the whole thing smaller and give it a smaller engine, BAM! it's more fuel efficient. It's like magic really.
I know, i know, that's not how they want to do it... blah blah we need Dodge Ram Magnum Hemmi POWER GARRR!!!
Ooh, or you could pull an A4 and make the biggest, fastest, most fuel efficient car in its class. That was a neat trick; i think it does cost more now, thought. Maybe that's where they got the number.
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Snoopy 12:14AM (5/20/2009)
I think you're on to something Matt,
Look at the Hondas and Toyotas out there (heck, you can even take a look at Ford now if you like). These companies have put a lot of work into increasing fuel efficiency over the past few years and that's why they're pulling numbers as high as 50mpg or more on both hybrid and non-hybrid models (over 80mpg in the case of crazy hypermilers - http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/04/28/ford-fusion-hybrid-hypermiles-goes-1-445-miles-on-a-single-tank/).
American automakers just have to catch up, and it shouldn't cost consumers another cent. Simply put, these new laws should help push along to manufacturing of fuel-efficient and electric vehicles.
John Rowell 4:14PM (5/19/2009)
I heard that the SUVs or "light trucks" will have a lower MPG standard to achieve which will result in many manufacturers making more crossovers and SUVs.
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Tohe 4:27PM (5/19/2009)
: )
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Randy C. 4:36PM (5/19/2009)
Great picture. Reminds me of the Bush administration.
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Gary 4:53PM (5/19/2009)
This shouldn't be too difficult for most manufacturers to achieve... IF... they start bringing over the more fuel efficient and diesel models that are already offered in Europe. Perfect example. A MINI is 37/28 MPGs with (I think) a 32 average... obviously below the standard requirement. Offer the diesel model that already gets 60+ MPGs in the US and they've met the CAFE goal with relatively minimal effort. They already know what tweaks have to be done to the D model if they do bring it to the US so now they just have to actually do that.
Ford can start selling the european diesel versions here... or just offer some of the more fuel effiicient (smaller) vehicles in the US market that they don't offer now. Instant boost in their CAFE numbers.
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Chad 5:01PM (5/19/2009)
A mini cooper is rated at 40 mpg under CAFE testing
dave 6:09PM (5/20/2009)
In his 2007 State of the Union address Bush called for increasing the CAFE standard from 25 mpg to 35 mpg by 2017. The bill passed by the Democrat Congress required the increase by 2020. So now through the regulatory process Obama will increase the requirement to 35.5 mpg and require it done by 2016. Think anyone in the liberal media will notice this?
The cars to accomplish this already exist and are being manufactured for the market in Europe.
The media is accepting the $1300 increase in price like it's written in stone. It just depends on what the American people will be willing to pay. I'm not willing to pay more so I will have to drive a smaller car. Some people will pay much more to get a car with light weight composite materials.
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Snowdog 6:36PM (5/19/2009)
I must say Obama continues to impress as shrewd negotiator who can find common ground and bring people together.
A lot of sensible things done here, like getting everyone to agree on one national standard, automaker dropping lawsuits. Everyone more or less happy with the outcome.
These groups seemed at war with each other for most of my life.
Wish my country had leadership like this.
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Matt 9:03AM (5/20/2009)
Well, don't be so surprised. As Chad said, the automakers now owe the government money, and Obama has always been on the same side as California on the issue anyway. Since GM now does basically anything the feds tell them it seems like a non-issue to get their approval of something like this, especially considering projects like the Volt. Other manufacturers don't want to be stuck screaming about it alone, so they go along with it. I'm glad they did, but it's not real shocker. We'll see how it pans out with results.