- cross-posted to:
- politics@lemmy.world
- climate@slrpnk.net
- cross-posted to:
- politics@lemmy.world
- climate@slrpnk.net
The new standards require American automakers to increase fuel economy so that, across their product lines, their passenger vehicles would average 65 miles per gallon by 2031, up from 48.7 miles today. The average mileage for light trucks, including pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, would have to reach 45 miles per gallon, up from 35.1 miles per gallon. Selling electric vehicles and hybrids would help bring up the average mileage per gallon across their product lines.
Can’t wait for the news reports on automakers faking milage charts in 2045.
…wait…I’ll probably be dead by then
I figure they’ll just keep making trucks bigger. Isn’t that why current-gen trucks are so grotesquely over-sized? Genuine question: I vaguely recall reading somewhere that the increase in size was to skirt emissions and/or mileage requirements for light trucks.
Yes, if something crosses the boundary into “light truck” it has a weaker emissions requirement, so manufacturers modified vehicle designs to qualify as such. There’s also a tariff on light trucks, so making a “light truck” is more profitable than a similarly capable “car”.
The way they’re expected to hit those numbers is by selling some electric models which don’t burn gasoline.
The average mileage for light trucks, including pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, would have to reach 45 miles per gallon, up from 35.1 miles per gallon.
That’s a reduction from 2.85 gal per 100 miles down to 2.22 or a 22% reduction in fuel consumption.
The standards will also require heavy-duty pickup trucks, such as the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, and large vans, such as Amazon delivery vans, to reach 35 miles per gallon by 2035, up from 18.8 miles per gallon today.
That’s a change of about 5.3 gal per 100 mi to 2.9 gal, or a 45% reduction in fuel consumption.
A Toyota Highlander Hybrid currently gets 35 mpg. To do over 20% less fuel it would need to be super aerodynamic, and lose about a ton of mass. Or it would have to be fully electric - the Rivian R1S gets 70 mpg equivalent.
Fully Electric is the idea; compliance means partly electrifying the mix of vehicles sold
Unfortunately it doesn’t really incentivize smaller or lighter vehicles in any way.