New Fuel Economy Rule Will Yield Only Slight Cut In Oil Use

(01 April 2003 — Washington, D.C.)  In response to a new federal rule that will incrementally increase fuel economy for light trucks, Environmental Defense today acknowledged the significance of beginning to upgrade Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, but urged the federal government to take much stronger action to stem years of steady increases in greenhouse gas pollution and oil use from the U.S. passenger vehicle fleet.

“Requiring manufacturers to produce light trucks that achieve better gas mileage in the near term acknowledges that design changes are available today that can decrease global warming pollution and reduce oil consumption,” said Kevin Mills, director of Environmental Defense’s Clean Car Campaign.  “However, the rule does not go nearly far enough to halt relentless increases in global warming pollution and oil use from light trucks, and much more can be done to increase fuel economy consistent with consumer desires for performance, safety and affordability.” 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a division of the Department of Transportation, issued a final rule today increasing CAFE standards for light trucks, including most minivans, pickups, and SUVs, by 1.5 miles per gallon between 2005 and 2007.

According to an Environmental Defense analysis, fuel saving technologies and design changes are available today that can safely and affordably improve fuel economy by 5% per year for 10 years, preventing 100 million metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution per year by 2020 and cutting oil demand by 3.6 million barrels per day?more than the U.S. imports from the Middle East.

“The American public deserves a stronger national commitment to decreasing petroleum use and addressing global warming pollution.  The federal government needs to demonstrate the political will to require automakers to do their part to address the risks associated with rising oil consumption, and a legislative cap on greenhouse gas emissions would be an important step in achieving that goal,” said Mills.