美總統歐巴馬5月8日提出美國史上最高規格的汽車燃料效能標準。強調提高燃料效能間接減少汽車溫室氣體排放量，達到同時節約能源和遏止氣候變化的目的。
一名資深官員告訴記者，歐巴馬提升「統合平均燃料效能標準」（CAFE）的全國計劃，將從2012年生産的車量開始實施。
如果該提案通過立法，2016年前車輛平均燃料效能須達到35.5mpg（英里／每加侖）。目前CAFE規定一般汽車耗能標準為27.5mpg，輕型卡車為24mpg。也就是說比目前CAFF訂于2020年上路的35mpg早4年實現35.5mpg的標準。
「預計此計劃全期可省下18億桶石油。」按總統的提議，「尾氣排放量將減少30%以上」這名官員說。
加州多年來朝2016年前減少30%汽車溫室氣排量的目標努力。並自2005年就一直等候美國環保署（EPA）批准其免於當前的聯邦尾氣排放標準管轄訴求，允許加州和其他13州各自執行轄區内更為嚴格的條例。
該官員還說，聯邦機構和白宮密切地與加州和所有汽車公司合作，共同制定這項提案。
McCurdy，美國汽車製造業聯盟（AAM）總裁兼首席執行長稱，制定一全國性計劃對汽車製造商而言是必要的。因為統一燃料經濟計劃讓製造商不需考量各地相關燃料規定的差異性順利將汽車賣到全國。
官員還稱該計劃全期預計將減少900萬噸溫室氣排放量。
這項歐巴馬提出的國家政策，很大程度維繫于美國最高法院兩年前授予EPA管制溫室氣排放權限的裁決。
今天，市場上有超過50個減排、增加燃料每加侖里程數、使用清潔燃料等的汽車技術熱賣中。McCurdy表示「汽車製造商目前推出130款達到30mpg的汽車供消費者選購。還可以在經銷商展廳要求試開35款混合動力或燃燒清潔柴油汽車。未來陸續有更多的技術推出上市」。
President Barack Obama is proposing on Tuesday the highest auto fuel efficiency standards ever attempted in the United States. Burning less fuel also will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from tailpipes, saving energy and forestalling climate change at the same time.
A senior administration official told reporters that Obama's national program for higher Corporate Average Fuel Economy, CAFE, standards is scheduled to start in model year 2012.
If the proposal is enacted, by 2016 the fleet average requirement would be 35.5 miles per gallon. Currently the CAFE standard is 27.5 mpg for cars and 24 mpg for light trucks. The 35.5 mpg standard would be achieved four years earlier than under the current CAFE law, which requires a 35 mpg standard in model year 2020.
"The projected oil savings of this program over the life of this program is 1.8 billion barrels of oil". Under the President's proposal, "Tailpipe emissions would fall by more than 30 percent," the official said.
The state of California has been trying for years to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles 30 percent by 2016.The state has been waiting since 2005 for the U.S. EPA to grant its request for a waiver of the current federal tailpipe emissions standard so that California and 13 other states can enforce their own stricter regulations.
The administration official said that federal agencies and the White House worked closely with California and all of the car companies in developing this proposal.
A national program is a priority to automakers, said Dave McCurdy, president and chief executive of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, because a national fuel economy program allows manufacturers to average sales nationwide. And a national program is expected to deliver overall greenhouse gas reductions equal to or better than those that would be realized under separate programs by different regulatory bodies.
The senior administration official said the program is projected to achieve reductions of 900 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the program.
The President's proposed national policy relies on the ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court two years ago that the U.S. EPA has the authority to regulated greenhouse gas emissions.
Today, there are more than 50 auto technologies on sale that reduce emissions, increase mileage and run on clean fuels. "Automakers are selling 130 models of automobiles that achieve 30 mpg or greater on the highway," McCurdy said. "Consumers can now test drive 35 models of hybrids or clean diesel in dealer showrooms. More technology is on its way to market."
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