The highest U.S. safety overseer has officially launched more lenient fuel consumption criteria, following a similar decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a few months ago.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has formally introduced new fuel efficiency standards mandating an average fleet economy of 50.4 miles per gallon by 2031 for the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations, as outlined in a report from Automotive News. The latest benchmark is lower than the original guideline, which stipulated that automobiles and light trucks must achieve an average fuel efficiency of 58 miles per gallon by 2032.
Moreover, the updated standards necessitate a mere 2 percent boost in fuel effectiveness annually for cars, while light trucks must observe a 4 percent enhancement from the model years 2027 to 2032.
The decline in electric vehicle (EV) sales in the United States may not endure long: Bloomberg
The revision in NHTSA regulations is a response to align with recent adjustments in standards by the EPA, which do not mandate as many electric vehicles (EVs) sold as previous regulations. Under the new EPA guidelines, effective since March, EVs must comprise between 30 and 56 percent of automakers’ light-vehicle sales between 2030 and 2032, a reduction from the previous proposal of reaching 67 percent by 2032.
The EPA generally has the authority to establish more stringent criteria than the NHTSA, as the latter agency is restricted from factoring in EV fuel efficiency when setting peak attainable standards for a given year, although it is required to include them for compliance purposes.
“With the expanding EV market, NHTSA faces challenges in setting standards as stringent as those of the EPA’s emission standards,” noted Chris Harto, Senior Policy Analyst at Consumer Reports.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation asserts that the updated standards bring the NHTSA’s regulations in line with those of the EPA.
“Is it fair to penalize an automaker for non-compliance with CAFE rules (which could result in substantial fines) if it adheres to the standards stipulated by the EPA’s new greenhouse gas regulations? No, they should not,” stated John Bozzella, CEO of the alliance. “At first glance, the final CAFE standard seems to reflect this sentiment!”
The alliance also contends that as the automotive sector shifts towards EVs, fuel efficiency standards will progressively become irrelevant.
“CAFE is an antiquated policy from the 1970s, aimed at promoting energy conservation and independence by enhancing the efficiency of internal combustion vehicles,” added Bozzella. “However, these vehicles are already highly efficient. As for EVs, they do not burn fuel. They do not even possess exhaust pipes.”
The NHTSA indicated that the new regulations were formulated in collaboration with the EPA, both agencies working cooperatively to “maximize the efficacy of their standards while minimizing compliance expenses.”
Share your thoughts with me by emailing zach@teslarati.com, follow me on @zacharyvisconti, or send tips to tips@teslarati.com.
