The Obama administration announced new fuel
efficiency standards Tuesday that will by 2025 double the average
efficiency of cars and light trucks compared to current new vehicles.
Under the new regulations cars and light trucks would be required
to travel an average of 23.25 kilometres per litre of gasoline (55
miles per gallon).
"These fuel standards represent the single most important step
we've ever taken to reduce our dependence on foreign oil," President
Barack Obama said in a statement. "It'll strengthen our nation's
energy security, it's good for middle class families and it will help
create an economy built to last."
Last year, 13 major automakers, which together account for more
than 90 per cent of all vehicles sold in the United States, announced
their support for the new standards.
According to an official statement, the regulations will save
consumers more than 1.7 trillion dollars at the gas pump and reduce
US oil consumption by 12 billion barrels.
The regulations will also cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars
and light trucks in half by 2025, and reduce emissions by 6 billion
metric tons over the life of the programme - more than the total
amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the United States in 2010.
