US environmental regulators to set new fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final determination finding current fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards for light-duty vehicles model years 2022-2025 are not appropriate. 

US environmental regulators decided that the emissions standards for cars and trucks set by Obama administration were “too high”. They announced on Monday that they would ease emissions standards for cars and trucks and set up new standards.

The agency believed the regulations “presents challenges for auto manufacturers due to feasibility and practicability, raises potential concerns related to automobile safety, and results in significant additional costs on consumers, especially low-income consumers”.

Automakers, environmentalists and metal producers and associations expressed mixed reactions in response to EPA’S determination. Heidi Brock, president and CEO of the Aluminum Association issued the following statement in response to the announcement:

“The U.S. aluminum industry supports nearly 713,000 jobs and $186 billion in direct and indirect economic output and we look forward to continuing working with the Administration and other stakeholders to ensure final emissions and fuel economy standards are premised on facts, data and on-the-road examples. Vehicles made lighter through greater aluminum use offer consumers better performance, affordable choices, higher fuel economy, lower emissions and improved safety. The Aluminum Association, whose member companies invested more than $2.6 billion in auto-focused manufacturing jobs since 2013, strongly supports regulatory certainty to 2025 through one national program.” 

The EPA said it had reviewed vehicles for model years 2022-25 but it did not provide details on the forthcoming revised standards. Current regulations require new vehicles to get 36 miles per gallon in real-world driving by 2025. That’s about 10 miles per gallon over the existing standard. 

The EPA will come up with new standards working in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Automakers applauded Monday’s decision, arguing that the current requirements would have cost the industry billions of dollars and raised vehicle prices.

Aluminium industry believes aluminium is the best choice for automakers as for safety and affordability is concerned.  Size, not weight, is the leading automotive safety determinant. High-strength, low-weight aluminum can be used to maintain or even increase the size and energy absorption capacity of a vehicle’s critical front- and back-end crumple zones for improved safety, without increasing vehicle weight overall.

Ford’s F-150 and Tesla’s Model S, which are predominantly made of aluminium, confirm reducing vehicle weight can increase safety, boost MPG, extend EV range, improve towing and cut emissions.