Rolling Back MPG Laws May Be More Costly Than You Thought

Americans want tougher emissions and fuel economy standards, says a new study. That’s a vast majority and on all sides of the political spectrum. It’s not really a surprise, because the tougher EPA standards save drivers money. Thousands of dollars in fuel costs over the lifetime of a vehicle. Over the next few years, if President Trump follows through on reverting fuel economy standards to 2019 levels, much of that fuel savings would be wiped out.

The study from Consumer Reports shows that 64 percent of Americans agree that the US government should keep increasing fuel economy standards. Only 17 percent of Americans would oppose such standards. That’s across both parties, CR said, with all agreeing that “automakers have a responsibility to consumers to improve gas mileage.”

Consumers Don’t Think Automakers Care About Lowering Costs

Consumers believe automakers have that responsibility, but they don’t think that automakers are holding up their end of the bargain. Or at least that automakers don’t want to. Only 5 percent strongly agreed that automakers cared about lowering fuel costs for customers.

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Fuel economy remains a serious concern for drivers. 36 percent felt that fuel economy was the top attribute where their vehicle needed improvement. That’s the highest on the list and six percentage points above concerns over the price they paid for the vehicle. Consumer Reports said that fuel economy has been the number one spot for room for improvement in nine years of studies, with 99 percent of drivers listing it in their top three in the latest.

2029 Standards Could Mean $15,000 In Savings

It’s no wonder that Americans are as concerned about fuel economy at $1.80 per gallon as they are at $3.80. Mandated fuel economy standards improvements since 2001 have saved them more than $9000 over the lifetime of the average new car. $2,200 of that has happened in the last three years alone. Tougher standards push innovation, lead to developing new engine technologies, pushing hybrid power, and making cars better.

The savings were set to shoot up over the next few years. CR estimates that changes in place now would add another $6,000 in savings, for more than $15,000 in total over a vehicle built in 2000. That’s for the average car, not just the most fuel-efficient new vehicles.

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Revised Fuel Economy Standards Is Good News For Detroit’s Big Three

The finalized ruling will see a lower CAFE requirement by 2031.

Under the new administration’s proposal to roll back standards to 2019 levels, that $6,000 savings would disappear. Another $2,700 of savings already realized would also disappear. Rolling it back, CR’s researchers say, would mean a new vehicle in 2029 would cost nearly $8,000 more to fuel over its lifetime.

The promise that comes with it is of cheaper new vehicles. However, CR has analyzed that data as well. From 2003 to 2021, it found “no systemic, statistically significant increase in inflation-adjusted vehicle prices.” In that same time, cars got safer thanks to new standards, better to run and drive, and 30 percent more fuel efficient.

Source: Consumer Reports