The Trump administration’s decision to significantly lower fuel economy standards in the US, effectively reversing former president Joe Biden’s push to encourage EV adoption, represents a ‘dangerous and costly attack on cleaner cars and public health’, the Sierra Club has said.
The environmental organisation was commenting after the US Transportation Department finalised Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards that will reduce the required fleet average to 34.9 miles per gallon by 2031, compared with 50.4 miles per gallon previously.
The department estimates the change will reduce manufacturers’ compliance costs by $1,289 per vehicle but increase fuel costs by more than $1,600 over a vehicle’s lifetime.
Direct impact
As the Sierra Club noted, given the current sky-high cost of fuel, coupled with an affordability crisis, making cars less fuel efficient will directly impact families. Transportation is currently the second-largest household expense in the US, after housing, accounting for 17% of average household spending.
It cited a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report that suggested that stronger fuel economy standards could save Americans billions in fuel costs, while also significantly reducing fuel consumption, which would also have positive knock-on effects for the environment.
“Families already cannot afford the basics, and now Donald Trump wants to make driving more expensive too. Less fuel-efficient cars mean more gas burned, spending more at the pump, and dirtier air in our communities,” commented Katherine García, Sierra Club Clean Transportation for All director.
“Americans need relief from high costs, but instead Trump is giving automakers a free pass on pollution and handing families the bill – at the pump and with their health.”
‘Brutal one-two punch’
Elsewhere, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) described the Trump administration’s move as a ‘brutal one-two punch’, adding that recent polling shows that voters overwhelmingly support strong fuel economy standards.
“While doing nothing to address gas prices that remain over $4 per gallon and oil and gas companies reporting over $85 billion in profits in the second quarter, the Trump administration is now making things worse for consumers by rolling back rules that help them save money by using less gas,” commented Matthew Davis, vice-president of federal policy.
“It is no secret that Trump promised handouts to Big Oil in exchange for campaign spending, and he is delivering for those billionaire CEOs and polluters while he hurts working families, American manufacturing competitiveness, public health, and the environment at every turn.” Read more here and here.
