Low Gas Prices Create A Detour On The Road To Greater Fuel Economy

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Since agreeing to tough new federal fuel economy standards five years ago, automakers have been methodically improving the gas mileage of their vehicles and reducing emissions harmful to the environment. But despite investing billions in fuel-saving technologies and introducing a raft of lower-mileage models and electric cars, the industry will be hard-pressed to meet its target of 54.5 miles per gallon in 2025.

Now, with a crucial midterm review of federal fuel-economy rules to begin this summer, automakers are expected to seek adjustments to the government’s formula for increasing mileage and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Proposed changes could include extending the time frame on mileage targets and expanding emissions credits to include enhancements for safety and autonomous driving — such as the move that carmakers announced last week to make automatic braking standard on all models by early next decade.

An industry effort to relax the mileage goals could set off conflict with the Obama administration, whose pledge to reduce emissions, as part of last year’s Paris climate accord, includes making big gains in vehicle fuel efficiency.

For now, government officials and auto executives are taking a cooperative stance and extolling the gains in fuel economy in recent years rather than questioning the industry’s ability to reach much higher standards down the road.

In a progress report released in December, the Environmental Protection Agency said fuel economy for new vehicles sold in the United States had improved 26 percent from 2004 to 2014, to 24.3 miles per gallon.
 

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