EPA introduces stricter gas mileage standards for big rigs

The transportation industry has eclipsed the power industry for carbon pollution.  Thus, new regulation introduced by the Environmental Protection Agency seeks to reduce emissions from big rigs.  The EPA and US Transportation Department issued regulations that require trucks to become more fuel efficient through 2027.  This has been a key policy goal of President Obama. These final rules acheive 10 percent more carbon emission reductions and fuel-consumption reductions than last year's proposed rules.  However, it very likely will raise the price tag for new vehicles by up to 5% as a big part of the greenhouse-gas reductions are expected to come from engine improvements.  These improvements should cut fuel consumption by a comparable 5%.  This would save truck owners nearly $170 billion in fuel costs and reduce oil consumption by as much as 84 billion gallons. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said, "We expect this will drive innovation as well as clear the air that we breathe.  These standards are ambitious but achievable." But it is likely that the nation's existing fleet of trucks will grow older and less fuel efficient as well.

Has the regulation gone too far? When you look at the big rig regulations with the industry's car standards of 54 MPG that must be met by 2025, one has to wonder.  Are we going to price the cost of vehicles beyond the reach of most Americans. We struggle to see whether millennials ( millions of young Americans) will buy cars as they grow older!   What young person with school loans to repay will be able to afford a small car with the prices which will have to be charged.  Fewer new car sales means that the fleet remains less fuel efficient so no gain is made.  People need cars to work so this limits peoples' options to drive to a job!

So LIFT, UBER and other ride sharing companies do more business on the back of lower new vehicle sales and less flexibility for the American buyer...

Just one view of this 54 MPG ! HA!!