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| The Trump administration is rolling back fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks. The Trumpsters say that will save consumers money, but fuel costs will eat up any savings. The climate will suffer, but the oil and gas industry will benefit. |
Washington Post describes Trump's move, announced on Monday:
"The rules still require fuel efficiency improvements but at a slower pace. Automakers now will need a car-and-truck fleet wide average of 34.9 mpg by the 2031 model year, instead of the stricter, projected 49.3 mpg under the Biden-era rule. Average fuel economy was 27.2 mpg in the 2024 model year, according to a government analysis."
In a social media post, Trump wrote his rolled back standard, "means LOWER PRICES, saving families thousands on a new, beautiful and safe car."
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated the new vehicle price would be reduced by $1,289 due to the lower fuel standard. Whether automakers pass the savings on consumers is a very open question.
New cars these days cost about $50,000 on average, so $1,300 is comparatively small potatoes.
Plus, especially if gas prices remain high, that $1,300 in savings would soon evaporate. Consumers might still turn to EVs as an alternative. Especially since high gas prices will quickly erase those supposed $1,300 in savings.
As the Washington Sun reported, the decision to loosen efficiency standards for new cars could add roughly $1,600 in fuel costs for drivers. So much for those savings on new car purchases.
Turns out a lot of people are seeing this cost issue. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI posted on Bluesky: "Another fossil fuel con job. Any savings on the front end get eaten up and spat out by excess costs of fuel, which go to - oh, right - Trump's big corrupt fossil fuel donors. Fuel economy standards have saved drivers hundreds of billons of dollars."
It's all about more cash for billionaires, right?
The main point of better fuel efficiency is to reduce pollution, including the emissions that worsen climate change.
At least we can say Trump is consistent here, which is rare for him. He hates fuel efficiency, mostly because he's in that small and shrinking group who thinks climate change is a "hoax." Trump has already cut the federal tax credit for electric vehicle buyers, delayed federal dollars for a nationwide EV charging program, and striking down federal waivers that let California set its own strict pollution regulations, as NPR notes.
In the long run, Trump's move to weaken fuel efficiency goals in cars might actually hinder the American automotive industry.
"Easing CAFE standards will hinder the industry's realignment toward more fuel-efficient and electric vehicles, said economist Sue Helper, who studies the auto industry at Case Western Reserve University.
'It's very bad in the long term, because it slows progress,' she said. 'Then we make our auto companies less competitive. We give them less practice in making the cars that both Americans will want in the future and the rest of the world will want.'"
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg agreed with Helper. He posted on social media: "Lowering standards will accelerate what her has already been doing: Handing the clean tech future to China and forcing Americans to pay more at the pump."
Trump's Department of Transportation is still aggressively selling the efficiency rollback. As Car and Driver reports, the department claims the alleged savings will save Americans $138 billion over the next five years. The department also claims it will lead shoppers to buy newer vehicles, saving 1,900 lives and preventing more than 300,000 serious injuries.
Although, we don't know whether people would actually buy new cars. The economy is bad enough such that people are holding off on purchasing new vehicles.
I'm sure some people will buy Trump's sales pitch. There's always some gullible people out there. But the relaxed fuel efficiency standards are just a money grab for the oligarchy, and not us.
