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California to Apply New Fuel Standards as Soon as Approved

The Environmental Protection Agency will set a public hearing to consider state-by-state fuel standards on March 5, with California aiming to apply the new restrictions immediately in case the state receives the green light from the agency. President Barack Obama last month demanded EPA to analyze California's and 13 other states' request to impose state-by-state regulations despite automakers' protests. US-based car manufacturer demanded an unique national standard as different restrictions could reduce already-damaged sales and force them to apply even more cost-cutting measures.

According to The Detroit News, California's fuel limits would require automakers to boost fuel economy to 35.7 mpg by 2016 and to 42.5 mpg by 2020. But even so, the agency will conduct an impartial review of California's request, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson told aforementioned source.

"It is imperative that we get this decision right, and base it on the best available science and a thorough understanding of the law," she explained.

California insisted that the state wants to apply the new set of rules as soon as they are approved by the agency. Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board, said the new standards would be effective since model year 2009.

"Nothing I saw changed the views that I had before is that there's a lot of great technology that we need to bring on," Nichols said at the Washington Auto Show according to the same source.

Obviously, automakers are still calling for a single national standard, pointing that different regulations would only reduce their sales which already reached the lowest point due to the economic downturn. California said its standards are likely to reduce new car sales by 4.7 percent by 2020.

"This is just a bureaucratic nightmare,” Sue Cischke, Ford Motor Co.' group vice president for sustainability, environment and safety, stated, explaining that adjusting models for state-dependent regulations would be extremely difficult.
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About the author: Bogdan Popa
Bogdan Popa profile photo

Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
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