The U.S. government has revealed new fuel economy standards. Light-duty vehicles are slated to return around 50.4 mpg for the 2031 model year. The government says drivers can expect to save more than $600 in fuel costs thanks to the changes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has revealed new fuel economy standards for the 2027-2031 model years. The government says the changes will “save Americans more than $23 billion in fuel costs while reducing pollution.
says the new standards will bring the average fuel economy rating of light-duty vehicles up to approximately 50.4 mpg by the 2031 model year. This is slated to save owners more than $600 in fuel over the life of their vehicles. Heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans are also slated to become more efficient under the new rules. Both will see efficiency “increase 10% per year for model years 2030-2032 and 8% per year for model years 2033-2035.
also says the standards will prevent more than 710 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said, “When Congress established the Corporate Average Fuel Economy program in the 1970s, the average vehicle got about 13 miles to the gallon. Under these new standards, the average light-duty vehicle will achieve nearly four times that at 50 miles per gallon.” She added, “These new fuel economy standards will save our nation billions of dollars, help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and make our air cleaner for everyone.
does not consider electric and other alternative fuels when setting standards.” This has been a point of contention, but “manufacturers may use all available technologies – including advanced internal combustion engines, hybrid technologies and electric vehicles – for compliance.” It’s also worth noting some of the statements made in the document are no longer true or are, at the very least, optimistic.