US Fuel Efficiency Headed Wrong Way

EPA embargoed its report on fuel economy while the House and conference committee deliberated on the energy bill.   The conference energy bill will soon be headed to the President's desk.

The report, available through the NY Times, indicates that fuel economy for the US fleet of cars and trucks has worsened since the 1980s.  The decrease in fuel economy is primarily due to the increased sales of vans, SUVs, and pickups, which now constitute 50% of the cars and trucks sold in the US.

DOT as of 2003 relaxed CAFE standards for trucks from 20.7 mpg for 2005, to 21.0 mpg in 2005, 21.6 mpg in 2006, and 22.2 mpg in 2007.   Relaxation of the CAFE standards promises to further decrease overall US fleet fuel economy.
Link: Text of Embargoed E.P.A. Report - New York Times.

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