Fuel Economy: Why Not Take It Even Higher?

Last week, President Obama announced a plan to boost the fuel economy of vehicles sold in the U.S. from 27.5 to 54.5 mpg beginning in 2017—effectively doubling fuel economy standards by 2025.

This important step—agreed upon by the auto industry after some wrangling—to reducing America’s reliance on foreign oil requires annual fuel-economy increases of 5 percent for cars. Light trucks, such as pickups will be able to raise fuel-economy at 3.5 percent for the first five years the rule is in effect—then at a rate of 5 percent thereafter as reported by Bloomberg Businessweek.

“This program will result in significant cost savings for consumers at the pump, dramatically reduce oil consumption, cut pollution and create jobs,” the administration said in an

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