New cars and trucks are more efficient than ever, but lax regulations mean they’re still far less efficient than usual, according to the EPA’s annual report emissions and fuel economy.
Dave Cooke, senior media analyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), explains one reason for this is that too much credit makes compliance too easy. blog post. Automakers are using those credits for regulatory compliance, rather than developing technology that drives efficiency, Cooke said, noting that even existing technologies remain untapped. exploit all.
Nearly half of all internal combustion engines currently use direct injection, less than half have an engine start-stop or hybrid system, and an even smaller number have cylinder deactivation. , Cooke noted.
Another part of the problem is that the Business Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rules allow actual fuel economy reduction as the fleet shifts to more trucks. Since 2012, automakers’ targets have been defined by the vehicle’s “footprint,” with a lower target for larger vehicles. So as automakers follow market trends and produce more pickups and SUVs, their target fuel economy will drop.
2022 Ford F-150
However, that’s not all bad news. Cooke noted that even current fuel-economy rules have delivered a consistent increase in efficiency, and said the EPA could point to a pile of credit from automakers arguing that the auto industry The car is ready for harsher emissions standards.
The agency is currently drafting standards for 2023 to 2026, and suggested recently that it will choose harsher standards than it originally outlined.
The push for stricter standards is relevant to a wide range of consumer groups and the environment gather at the beginning of this summer. They argue that higher standards are now needed to make up for Trump-era obstacles in emissions and fuel economy rules.
These potentially stricter rules still need to be negotiated, but in the meantime, the Biden administration has suggested that higher fines for not complying with the emissions rules could be one solution to Trump’s retracement.
