Obama to tighten fuel efficiency norms for cars, trucks

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has decided to come out with the toughest ever fuel efficiency and first ever greenhouse gas emission standards; according to which by 2016 American auto makers would have to make vehicles that gives an average fleet mileage of 35.5 miles per gallon.

In 2016, US auto makers would have to manufacture cars having a fuel efficiency of 39 miles per gallon and for trucks the efficiency standards would be 30 miles per gallon.

Presently, it is 27.5 miles per gallon for cars and 23.1 miles per gallon for trucks. This is expected to save 1.8 billion barrels of oil and is projected to achieve reductions of 900 million metric tons of green house gas emission.

"That is equivalent to taking 177 million cars off the road or shutting down 194 coal plants,"a senior administration official told White House reporters on the eve of the announcement being made by Obama today.

The new efficiency norms were earlier scheduled to be achieved by 2020. At present, the average fuel efficiency for 2009-make motor vehicles (cars and trucks) is 25 miles per gallons.

This is an average five per cent yearly increase in fuel efficiency, the official said adding that this is equivalent to taking 177 million cars off the road or shutting down 194 coal plants.