Lawmakers set deal on raising fuel efficiency

Congressional negotiators reached a deal on legislation to require automakers to achieve 35 miles per gallon on average by 2020.
The New York Times

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[Stating]

2020 Is Basically Never

What will gasoline cost in 2020? $15 per gallon? $20? 50$. $500 to fill up a car? It won't be Detroit's decision as to what MPG they will achieve, it will be the cost of peak oil (with a sizeable risk premium factored in), and what competitors offer. Detroit still thinks it is the 1960's and they are dictating the market. They had better get with the program or Detroit will cease to have any auto industry at all.

[ehoff61]

This legislation is a joke, right?

35 mpg by 2020 and a 2008 requirement of 27.5 mpg average for cars and 22.5 mpg for light trucks -- this is silly. The auto industry is trying to sell the idea that coming up with fuel efficiencies such as found in other industrial countries is bad. Yeah, bad for the big auto makers and their board of directors. And the politicians are claiming victory? Come on, I am not that stupid. But then, I am not your 'average' american citizen. I have a brain AND know how to use it. Most americans are idiots, morons, or christians. ALL easily fooled, easily led, and easily misled.<br />Go have another beer america and call it 'good'. LOL. It's too much for you people to deal with. What was that phrase? If it's not happening in my neighborhood, it's not happening to me? And regarding the christians, (of which, I once was as well) they follow the words of their entertainer/pastors/ministers/preachers/deacons etc. without taking the RESPONSIBILITY to search out the truth on their own. Most only show spirit at church and flesh everywhere else. Thus, easily led, misled, deceived, etc.<br />Hey, politicians!...tell me another joke, you morons!

[Leria]

They need to get to at least 60mpg

within the next 5 years, and have totally electric vehicles that can go the same amount of distance as regular gasoline cars by the year 2015 at the latest.<br /><br />This law just DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH to try to break our dependence on foreign oil!

[dondarko]

that's pathetic

while Europe plans to have emissions-free cars by then, we're talking measly 35 miles per gallon.

[SpiritWater]

Agreed

By 2020 we should be driving all-electric or hydrogen fuel cell cars.<br /><br />The federal government should mandate that all major cities build mass transit systems and help fund them. Here in Seattle we're going to have light rail by 2009 but with little federal government funding. It will only be 16 miles to start, but will at least get the idea churning in people's heads that light rail is good for the environment and to beat conjestion.<br /><br />We Seattle citizens knocked down an initiative that would have extended it another 50 miles to the suburbs. That was a shame and people will regret that decision. Hopefully that light rail plan will come back.<br /><br />The 1.5 trillion that will be spent in Iraq could have gone to solve our fuel and energy needs for all time. That too is a shame.<br /><br />Break the Wedge!<br />www.breakthewedge.com

[Michael K.]

Mandates not good

Mandates are never a good way to govern! Of course I would like higher fuel standards, but this is horrible legislation. Not to mention, it just encourages people to drive more, which creates congestion, etc. What we really need is a hike in the gas tax and/or a carbon tax. that's responsible legislation.

[LT73]

What a joke...

Why is it that despite some of the greatest minds in the world, the United States of America behaves like one of the least intelligent?<br /><br />Gold Bars...?<br /><br />Planet...?<br /><br />Gold Bars...?<br /><br />Planet...?

[inachu]

LOL

Some of the latest Hybrid cars being sold in USA at this moment only get 21 in the city.<br /><br />What a step backwards!