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Entry bubble Stricter Fuel Economy Standards

By: Colleen | May 20, 2009 | Category: Money

Yesterday, President Obama proposed stricter fuel economy standards to cut down on vehicle greenhouse gas emissions.

This means there will be a federal standard that is the equivalent to what is currently required of automobiles in California. The current standards are 27.5 miles per gallon, while this plan will require that cars get an overall average of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016.

Some pros of this plan are that these changes will save about 1.8 billion barrels of oil by 2016 and will remove the equivalent of 177 million cars from the roads. It is also speculated that it could help the struggling U.S. auto industry by giving them a single goal to meet.

On the other side of the argument, some say that since this takes auto regulation out of the hands of the state, that it is only increasing an already too big federal government. This plan will also likely increase the cost of a car about $600- but this should be made up by saving on gas.

What do you think of the new plan?

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Comments (11):

blue comment bubble Posted by From the sidelines on May 20, 2009 at 08:53 AM EDT

Stricter fuel economy standards are a good beginning but we need to do more to decrease the use of fossil fuels. The US govt should place a higher tax on gas consumption as do the European nations. That would help to wean us off our out-of-control use of oil. The planet is dying around us and we are not acting fast enough to save it.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Burton Paikoff on May 20, 2009 at 09:01 AM EDT

Hearing the complaint about Big Government, I think it is time that to "ALL" high school Students be required to have at least one Semester on "THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION". Anything that affects "INTERSTATE FUNCTIONS" is the in the realm of the Federal Government. We all do a lot of Interstate travel and should be legal in our Travels.

A typical example was when the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court fuffed the oath of Office.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Thomas on May 20, 2009 at 10:50 AM EDT

How does forcing the automaker to spend billion of dollars they do not have, to improve fuel economy, help them survive the current economic conditions?

President Obama said that the money the consumer would save from the better gas mileage would offset the additional $600.00 to $1,500 added to the car price because of these new standards. It seems that President Obama did not take in account everybody raising their gas taxes to make up for the lost revenue because of all these fuel efficient vehicles. The governor for state of Wisconsin wants to add a yearly surcharge of $50.00 to all hybrid vehicles owners because of lost gas tax revenue.

Someone I work with stated that the best thing about President Obama was that we now get to see that former President Bush was really a good President. I am beginning to agree with him.

Thomas

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blue comment bubble Posted by Ron Tomlinson on May 20, 2009 at 11:11 AM EDT

President Obama has the pragmatic and disciplined problem solution approach which our country has long needed to deal with the needs of most voters. Other presidents may have had the appearance of lacking pragmatism or discipline, but they may have actually working for special interests. If we assume no dummy will get elected president or to congressional offices, then we have to assume that the special interest groups have been too cozy with more than one branch of government.

The problem I see is that a visionary like President Obama has a finite term limit. His power will expire eventually then our country will once again fall into the hands of the selfish and intolerant.

We need to work to establish support for President Obama's most needed programs to help them survive his term of office. LBJ completed some JFK programs, so some JFK programs survived his term of office. I believe President Obama can draw on his Community organizer background to gain support outside of those parties beyond the government payroll. It might take a little fancy foot work to get the banks and insurance companies to see profit in treating customers well. The trick is to wrap a profit connection into programs that have always been prejudged as social.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Chris Smalley on May 20, 2009 at 11:22 AM EDT

It is interesting how the 'free marketplace' has not in fact demanded better fuel economy - that when given the opportunity many Americans will buy SUVs and other vehicles that are not fuel-sippers (not withstanding that there are many buying hybrids - but in total the numbers seem to favor the less fuel conscience). The question arises - will the government have to always step in and 'do the right thing,' whether insuring that our cars get better fuel economy to insuring that we are not eating too much trans-fats, to a litany of other issues?
Does our conduct result in a 'Nanny state,' or does a 'Nanny state' result in our conduct?

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blue comment bubble Posted by cortney a. potter on May 20, 2009 at 01:30 PM EDT

it's a good idea for the "working individuals" who drive everyday using the same car. Plus, for the smart consumer, providing an opportunity to save a penny or two.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Margaret Cable on May 20, 2009 at 04:35 PM EDT

Good, but when are we going to get universal healthcare? The republicans are going to be upset as long as you are spending money and "federalizing" things. Why not do it where it counts? Stop bandaiding the economy and perform some surgery on it!

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blue comment bubble Posted by Spectator on May 21, 2009 at 08:31 AM EDT

Wow, Colleen, judging by the comment traffic, you picked a doosey today, Good Work!!!!

Yes, we need more eficient vehicles, and the technology is already there, just not in use o rbeing mass produced. There are Gasoline Engines using Diesel Technology to extract more mechanical enegy and produce less heat from the fuel. The problem is they require more metal which leads to an increase in costs and weight which is what the manufacturers are fighting. Prices of cars are artificially inflated and manufacturerscosts have become inflated because of their comfort level. Now it is time for a reckoning.

As for Obama's power expiring, it looks like that might be happening already. he's burning his political capital too fast. There is an old proverb that states "He who starts too much, accomplishes little." he needs to show a little more shrewdness. Burning political Capital on cabinet nominees, who can't figure out how to pay their taxes has cost him. If it were not in the face of the current "Crisis," Geithner never would have made it out of committee. Obama needs to play more chess, and less tic-tac-toe.

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blue comment bubble Posted by discountautoparts on July 01, 2009 at 11:02 AM EDT

Just like what The President said on his speech, we can make it but it requires a lot of work to do!

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blue comment bubble Posted by HETAIRIA PHILIKON on July 06, 2009 at 06:31 AM EDT

look, the restricting of fuel is a good muove from a two reasons: first, greenhouse gas emisions, and finding a new ways of energy because we don't have to much oil and gas to be sure that all our industry will keep it and giving us a good results. the technology and ecomony must grove on new forces of energy. if it stay on fuel and oil, it will fall for 10-20 years with them. also, we must look what will happen with our children and land for 30-40 years if we continue gas emissions

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blue comment bubble Posted by zapater on July 10, 2009 at 11:31 AM EDT

Global warming as an important step to reduce the effects have been characterized. But there is lot of work to be done. They should reduce the rate of carbon dioxide at the beginning of the factory, the plant should be done quickly, working with electric and solar energy systems should be returned.
http://fantastic-cars-wallpapers.blogspot.com

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