62 mpg car standard by 2025? U.S. mulls options

Notice of intent aims at dealing with climate and oil dependency but carmakers cite cost Interactive

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President Barack Obama checks out an all-electric Ford Focus — a model still in development — at a groundbreaking ceremony for Compact Power's advanced battery factory in Holland, Mich. on July 15. The plant will build batteries for electric vehicles including the Chevrolet Volt and Ford Focus. A new federal push for higher mileage cars will likely bolster gas-electric hybrids and all-electric vehicles.
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updated 1 hour 2 minutes ago

WASHINGTON — Should new cars be required to get 62 mpg by 2025? That's one scenario under an Obama administration notice filed Friday for drafting mileage standards covering the period from 2017 to 2025.

The fleet of new vehicles may need to meet a standard set somewhere from a low of 47 mpg to a high of 62 mpg, the administration said in its notice of intent.

An initial assessment shows the additional costs for producing high-mileage vehicles ranges from $800 to $3,500, its notice stated, but that cost could be "higher" when a more detailed analysis is completed by November.

The notice added, however, that the changes would lead to "lifetime savings due to reduced fuel costs of about $5,000 to over $7,000."

Moreover, the mileage gains would be the equivalent of an annual decrease in carbon dioxide emissions per mile of 3 to 6 percent.

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Updated 6 minutes ago Posts indicate student turned to staff before suicide Cops shoot father who killed 2 teenage sons Updated 62 minutes ago 62 mpg car standard by 2025? U.S. mulls options Students or servants? Ex-dean accused of abuse The move is framed as a way of attacking climate change, reducing U.S. dependency on foreign oil and growing the economy through cleaner energy jobs.

The administration's "notice of intent" was released by the Transportation Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, laying the groundwork for a proposal to be issued in September 2011 and approved by July 2012.

It gives automakers, environmental groups and states an overview of the possible standards, describe the technologies that would be needed to achieve those goals, and seek feedback from the public.

David Strickland, the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said the notice lays out the game plan for the proposal but that the government would not make any decisions "until we have the data and the facts and the science behind us."

The time period in question, model years 2017-2025, may seem "like a long way away, but it isn't," Strickland said. "We're looking at a lot of technologies on the horizon that could be incorporated into the fleet."

35.5 mpg by 2016

But while environmentalists are behind measures to increase vehicle efficiency, automakers argue that pushing gas mileage standards up that quickly could force them to raise prices higher than drivers can afford.

After little progress during the past three decades, rules adopted earlier this year will lift the new vehicle fleet average to 35.5 mpg by 2016, an increase of more than 40 percent over current standards.

The standards are designed to improve gas mileage across each automaker's lineup and across the nation's entire fleet of new vehicles. Vehicles must meet differing standards based on their dimensions. Compact cars must get better mileage than sport utility vehicles, for example, but requirements for all types will go up.

Environmental groups say a mix of gas-electric hybrids, electric vehicles and improvements to conventional vehicles could create a vastly more efficient fleet. A target of 60 mpg by 2025 would translate to about a 6 percent improvement each year.

President Barack Obama said in May he thought it was possible for cars and trucks to cut their fuel use and carbon emissions by half within 20 years.

U.S. passenger vehicles emit about 20 percent of the nation's carbon emissions and consume about 44 percent of its oil, figures show.

Not all of industry on same page
Charles Territo, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said many different factors must be considered to set the maximum feasible level of fuel economy and greenhouse gas reductions.

"The danger is that a standard is put forth that increases fuel economy too quickly, adding unnecessary cost and effectively pricing consumers out of the market," Territo said.

Other parts of the automotive industry have a different take.

Aluminum suppliers, for example, were quick to tout the benefits of light-weight aluminum over traditional steel in vehicles.

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Suppliers of hybrid and all-electric vehicles also stand to benefit.

Later this year, several automakers will begin releasing plug-in electric hybrids and electric cars. General Motors is releasing the plug-in Chevrolet Volt, and Nissan begins selling the all-electric Leaf, opening a new wave of mass-produced electric vehicle options.

"You will have to go with the alternative that's on the table now," said John O'Dell, senior editor of Edmunds Green Car Advisor.com. "Some combination of electricity with or without an engine — conventional hybrid, plug-in, extended range. It will be a combination of those things."

Conventional hybrid automobiles are the only vehicles on the road today with a measure of commercial popularity that could come close to meeting new aggressive government targets for fuel savings and emissions reductions, these experts say.

Slideshow: Green shines at N.Y. car show (on this page)
Prius now at 51 mpg
For instance, the 2011 Prius achieves 51 mpg city/48 highway. It runs on a nickel-metal hydride battery pack and a gasoline engine.

Hybrid sales overall are down this year and represent roughly 2 percent of the U.S. automotive sales market, roughly 150,000 cars for 2010 through August. Prius accounts for about two-thirds of the total, according to industry sales figures.

Hybrid sales have traditionally gotten a boost from high gasoline prices, which this year have remained steady around $2.70 in 2010 after dramatic price swings in recent years. In 2008, gasoline hit a record $4 a gallon.

Government tax breaks and manufacturer incentives have also helped sales and some of those have expired.

O'Dell believes 10 percent market penetration would put hybrids in the mainstream — about 1 million in sales. A 4.5 percent annual gain in fuel efficiency over 2016 levels would put the industry at 53 mpg.

Brendan Bell, a lobbyist for Union of Concerned Scientists, believes the entire family of hybrid/electric vehicles could shoot to more than 50 percent of the market by 2025, depending on gasoline prices and incentives.

All-electric vehicles, because they use zero gasoline, are not measured in terms of miles per gallon of gas, but their operational costs are much less and they don't emit CO2 so they would easily make a 62-mpg equivalent ranking.

Still, obstacles to wider electric vehicle deployment include securing a steady and not costly supply of materials for nickel-metal hydride, lithium-ion, and other batteries used to power those cars.

The government is also expected to soon release a proposal for first-ever fuel efficiency and emissions standards for medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks beginning with the 2014 model year.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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General Motors introduces the automaker's Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept at the show. (Rebecca Cook / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation Crowded house
Journalists gather on stage after the Lincoln news conference at the show. (Carlos Osorio / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation On Tourer
A Subaru Hybrid Tourer concept car is displayed at the show. (Carlos Osorio / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertisement | ad infoElectrifying
A Blue-Will gasoline-electric hybrid concept vehicle is displayed at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan. (Bryan Mitchell / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Aveo blue
Chevrolet Design Director Mike Simcoe unveils the Chevrolet Aveo RS show car at the show. (John F. Martin / Chevrolet via EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertisement | ad infoHang ten!
Dancers introduce the Mini Concept Beachcomber at the show. (Rob Widdis / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation Leave 'em hanging
Exhibit designers inspect the 2010 Buick LaCrosse mounted on the wall in the General Motors exhibit at the show. (John F. Martin / Buick Handout / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Advertisement | ad info Advertisement | ad infoCharge!
The Audi e-tron concept car, a pure electric drive auto that goes from 0 to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds, is shown at the show. (Carlos Osorio / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation Dieter on Daimler
Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche speaks during the first press preview day at the show. (Stan Honda / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertisement | ad infoCoupe de grace
A model presents the Mercedes E 350 coupe at the show. (Stan Honda / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertisement | ad infoAward for Ford
The 2010 Ford Transit Connect was named North American Truck of the Year at the show. (Rob Widdis / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation Dance break
Dancers add that certain something to the introduction of the Volkswagen NCC Hybrid Concept during the press preview at the show. (Bryan Mitchell / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation The gang's all here
Journalists gather on stage after Ford Motor Co. introduces the next generation Ford Focus at the show. (Carlos Osorio / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation Executive summary

Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally, left, and Executive Chairman William Ford, Jr., pose beside to the next-generation Ford Focus 5-door at the show. (Carlos Osorio / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation Small package

The Toyota FT-CH compact hybrid is displayed at the auto show. (Stan Honda / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Regal bearing
Global Chief Engineer Jim Federico presents the GMC Buick Regal during the first press preview day at the show. (Stan Honda / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Rock show

The GMC Granite concept car takes the stage at the auto show. (Stan Honda / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation I'd like to thank ...
Ford Motor Co. President of the Americas Mark Fields holds up the 2010 North American Truck of the Year award and Car of the Year award at the show. The Ford Fusion Hybrid was named the 2010 North American Car of the Year and Ford Transit Connect was named the 2010 North American Truck of the Year. (Carlos Osorio / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation Opening day

Journalists from around the world walk through the displays during the opening hour of the show. More than 700 vehicles, including 60 new models, are being exhibited. (Bill Pugliano / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Shocker

A Green Vehicles' Triac is on display at the show. The 100 percent electric vehicle has a top speed of 80 miles per hour, and a 100-mile range. (Bill Pugliano / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
In the mix Ford shows off its Fusion hybrid at the show, where it was awarded North American Car of the Year . (Bill Pugliano / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood speaks to the media standing near a Volkswagen Golf during the the first press preview day at the show. (Stan Honda / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Feeling blue
Mitsubishi President and CEO Shinichi Kurihara, introduces Mitsubishi's all-new Crossover Utility Vehicle at the New York International Auto Show at the Javits Center in New York City. (Emile Wamsteker / Getty Images)
Notice of intent aims at dealing with climate and oil dependency but carmakers cite cost
“
as far as i'm concerned, this should be a matter of national security... 65 mpg would end the stranglehold foreign oil has on us now. Ford has the diesel Fiesta in England, right now, that gets 65 + MPG. Bring it over. People are too hooked on horsepower, speed, and luxury. Big, fast cars are the past, not the future.

”
Expand Collapse garyg-1228020, with 5Reply
“
What the heck are WE waiting for? 60 MPG by 2015 should be the goal...

I guess the US auto companies enjoy having us fighting wars in places like Iraq to secure oil for their over sized and gas guzzling vehicles.

Drill-baby-drill.....it kills the environment, it kills people, it kills our balance of payments, it kills our mfg. base in the US.....but it makes for a nice big fat top line and profits for big oil and bid auto companies....and so the execs get their big fat bonuses.

But the "small people" suffer as a result.....because of gas guzzlers, oil is more expensive, food is more expensive, everything that the small people struggle to afford (basic essentials) is more expensive. The rich don't care......they just hold back on what trickles down to the serfs.

Drill-baby-drill.........so we can all look like Texas.

”
Expand Collapse steve-641900, with 4Reply
“
Yep. It runs off of smoke and mirrors, like the rest of the Obama administration.