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Obama Raises Fuel-Economy Standards

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 27, 2009 11:44 AM CDT

(Newser) – US fuel-economy standards are going up, an Obama administration official tells Bloomberg today. By 2011, new cars and light trucks will have to hit an average of 27.3 miles per gallon—30.2mpg for cars and 24.1 for light trucks and SUVs. Automakers have raised no objections—the standard is only 0.3mpg higher than the average for 2008 vehicles, the Detroit Free Press adds.

A 2007 law requires vehicles to meet a 35mpg standard by 2010. Obama’s new standard is actually lower than the 27.8 President Bush proposed, but never implemented, in April. “That means that they’ll have to make up for it in future years,” said one clean-car advocate. “The good news is that they have promised that they will.”

Honda's new Insight hybrid cars are on display during an unveiling in Tokyo, Feb. 5, 2009.
Honda's new Insight hybrid cars are on display during an unveiling in Tokyo, Feb. 5, 2009.   (AP Photo)
2011 vehicle models will need to average 27.3 miles per gallon, with light trucks mandated at 24.1mpg and cars at 30.2.
2011 vehicle models will need to average 27.3 miles per gallon, with light trucks mandated at 24.1mpg and cars at 30.2.   (AP Photo)
The Obama administration has a March 31 deadline for upping fuel-economy standards, in line with a 2007 law.
The Obama administration has a March 31 deadline for upping fuel-economy standards, in line with a 2007 law.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Mr.C
Mar 27, 2009 6:08 AM CDT
Why is the headline so positively stated? Things barely changed, and was actually a step down from 2007s law. editor editors
Mr.C
Mar 27, 2009 6:06 AM CDT
keep this crap to yourself. comment on the news story
Robert_Dada
Mar 27, 2009 5:13 AM CDT
Community organizer, attorney, constitutional law lecturer, state senator, US senator, US president. Yeah, I'm sure your resume is more impressive.

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