Since gas prices have increased at an all time high of $3.51 a gallon and the risks of global warming getting higher, the Bush Administration yesterday announced an increase in fuel economy standards to met by 2015. For new cars and trucks, that would mean automakers would have to increase mileage from the old standard of 27 mpg to a new standard of 31 mpg. Of course, we need to understand how this all came about from our past.
Let’s look at a bit of history as to how the fuel economy standard came into being. In the mid 1970’s, the EPCA( Energy Policy Conservation Act) was passed under then President Gerald Ford’s Administration and was extended to Jimmy Carter’s Administration towards until 1980. The law established CAFE( Corporate Average Fuel Economy) which set out standards to increase fuel mileage in automobiles by 1985. These laws were created due to oil shortages driven by policies created from OPEC.
This led to a significant fall of oil imports from the Persian Gulf at 87% which in turn made our economy grow by 27% within the late 1970’s. In that time, the big automakers figured out how to build more fuel-efficient cars. You got that right–FUEL EFFICIENT CARS. The fuel economy average in the late 70’s was a low 19 mpg.
In fact, the big automakers at that time gave foresight into just how much fuel mileage can be attained by 1985 GM and some automakers with respect to the NHTSA ( National Highway Transportation Agency ) proposed a detailed report estimating the standard of fuel to reach 30 – 33 mpg by 1985 to 48 mpg by 1995.
Can you imagine what kind of fuel standards we would have today? Maybe 60 mpg to 100 mpg. But shortly after the NHTSA published the report in the early 1980’s, the big gipper Republican Ronald Reagan and his Administration rolled the CAFE standards back in 1986 to 26 mpg which was one point shorter than the 27 mpg that Congress mandated in 1985. The reason for Reagan’s decision was due to a declining American Oil Industry. That decision let to an increase of oil dependency from the Persian Gulf which consisted of many Arab countries to name a few–Saudi Arabia, Iraq & Iran.
When the 90’s came, the then Senior George Bush and his Administration went back to 27 mpg and never changed from that point on. Not even the tough gritting Eco-Friendly Bill & Hillary Clinton and their Administration increased the standards. They just kept it at that number.
And now we have come to this sad moment in our history of America. To have Bush Jr. increase the fuel standard to 31 mpg by 2015 is a slap on the American people’s face and wallets. It may be a slow improvement, but then again, the automakers and Congress have been complacent with their improvements on so-called gas mileage. PUMP N’ GO wonders why? Maybe big oil = big profits?
It’s a disgrace to see this new standard. The people of America work hard in their lives and for their money and this is what they get–31 mpg from the Auto Industry in a troubling downward spiral of an economy for which we live in now especially paying $3.51 a gallon of gas as of yesterday.
We can only hope for better mileage from alternative vehicle companies. At least such companies have a heart that keeps us pumping and believing in long term mileage.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24258714
http://www.nader.org/interest/041104.html
