Obama Asked to Raise Fuel Standards to 60 MPG by 2025

Perhaps one of the most discussed topics in the US automotive industry these days is the proposal made by The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) to President Barack Obama, concerning future fuel economy standards in the US.

Backed by its 22 members, the CFA asked the President, through a letter, for the new legislation to be adopted, which would call for a fuel economy standard of 60 mpg (3.9l/100 km) by the year 2025. The reason behind the bold request, as explained by those who proposed the measure, is simple: it will save consumers money.

The request made by the group comes a few days before the Obama Administration will release a Notice of Intent for 2017-2025 fuel economy standards for cars, SUVs and pick-up trucks. The numbers will be made public on September 30.

Despite the fact that several parties have expressed their disapproval of the proposed standard, the CFA is backed by numbers in their quest: 44 billion gallons of fuel will be saved by 2030, while $100 billion will no longer be spent on fuel. This huge amount of money to be saved by lower economy standards include the expenditures required to adopt new fuel efficient technologies, most of which have already been developed..

"Your Administration has an extraordinary opportunity to benefit consumers, while also improving our global competitiveness, energy independence, and environmental quality,” the group's letter to the Administration reads.

“We are writing to ask you to establish a target of 60 miles per gallon (mpg) for cars and trucks as the goal for the fuel economy standards for model year 2025.”