How Will Automakers Cope With Updated Federal Fuel Economy Requirements?

It doesn't take a scientist to realize that in order for car manufacturers to meet the updated federal fuel economy standards, vehicles will have to become smaller and lighter, perhaps changing the very way that we perceive our cars altogether. The new mileage proposal was recently rolled out by President Obama who promises to make sure that all car companies selling their vehicles in the US meet the upgraded standards.

To be sure, changes were already on their way as President Bush signed legislation in 2007 requiring car manufacturers to build cars that use less fuel and emit fewer pollutants than those being built today. Bush had these newer requirements taking full effect in 2020 while Obama wants those standards raised and moved up to 2016.

Reaching New Fuel Goals

In order to reach the higher goals car manufacturers, who also just so happen to be financially pressed as never before, will probably take a number of different approaches to reach goals requiring that cars average 39 mpg and light duty pickup trucks 30 mpg. These changes may include:

Smaller Cars – One of the easiest ways for car manufacturers to get to the goals set by the feds is to simply build more smaller cars. Small cars weigh less, are powered by tiny engines and get very good gas mileage. However, consumers may not be willing to make the switch as room, safety and comfort are all important considerations when shopping for a car.

Diesel Power – Volkswagen is one of several car companies offering clean burning diesel engines for the US market. Diesels by their very nature are much more fuel efficient as much as 30-40% more efficient than comparable sized gas engines. Expect Volkswagen to sharply increase the number of diesel powered cars in their line up with other manufacturers following suit.

Hybrid Models – Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan and other manufacturers are experienced builders of hybrid vehicles, cars that run on both gas and electric power. One distinct advantage of this sort of powertrain arrangement is that consumers do not always need to settle on buying a smaller car to get good fuel mileage. The midsize Ford Fusion Hybrid already delivers a combined 38 mpg while not sacrificing on what consumers want which includes comfort and storage space.

Electric Vehicles – EV models or electric vehicles will begin to become part of every manufacturer's line up, cars with fuel economy numbers in excess of 100 mpg. These vehicles will help car companies reach their corporate average fuel economy goals, offsetting larger sedans and trucks which won't be able to hit their targets.

Additional Technological Advancements

Other technologies including turbo-charged engines, six speed automatic transmissions and lighter materials will play a part in helping the car companies reach their fuel goals. These changes won't come without some cost, however, as it has been estimated that they will add as much as $1300 to the price of every car.