After days of discussions with advisers, President Trump has announced a proposal to ease fuel efficiency rules.
Most of the previous rules were implemented by the Obama administration. The rules were targeted to decrease and limit vehicle emissions in hopes of making the use of fuel less environmentally damaging.
Opponents of Trump’s measures now include automakers and consumer groups along with environmentalists. These groups will have to work to ease the Trump administration’s proposal to bring it into line with their ideals.
In its current state, the plan would cause the termination of many requirements which forced companies to work on fuel-efficient cars, such as hybrids or electric models.
It would also eliminate states’ ability to set their own tailpipe pollution standards, which could cause a great deal of legal backlash.
Another requirement which would be eliminated under this proposal includes the mandatory increases to the fuel economy of passenger vehicles on a yearly basis, with projections of reaching 54 miles per gallon by 2025. After 2021, the mandatory increases will be stopped, ending at 37 miles per gallon.
The proposal was published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Transportation Department. According to these organizations, previous legislation caused unnecessary costs to the American people and eliminated jobs. They argue that these proposed changes will “give consumers greater access to safer, more affordable vehicles, while continuing to protect the environment.”
White House officials have also stated that leaving the standards as they were could have caused for tens of thousands of fatalities, due to the production of lighter cars. According to the Transportation Department, “[the proposed measure]Â could save up to a thousand lives annually by reducing these barriers that prevent consumers from getting into newer, safer cars.”
While some supporters of the bill have praised the new requirements for automobiles and trucks, many people have questioned the accuracy and effectiveness of Trump’s proposals. Some automobile makers have stated that, even though they asked the president to repeal some of the Obama-imposed requirements, they do not support such a strong drawback.
Featured Image via Flickr/usepagov
