The bill, introduced January 30, would require auto manufacturers to raise the fuel economy standards for light trucks and SUVs from the current 21 miles per gallon (mpg) to 27.5 mpg -- the standard that passenger cars meet today. The legislation calls for gradual increases in fuel efficiency, climbing to 23.5 mpg by 2008, 24.8 mpg by 2009, and 26.1 mpg by 2010, reaching 27.5 mpg in 2011.
The bill would also increase the weight range of vehicles regulated by corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards, making it more difficult for manufacturers to build SUVs too big to be bound by CAFE standards.
“Simply put, this legislation is the single most important step the United States can take to limit dependence on foreign oil and better protect our environment,” Feinstein said. The bill is a great improvement upon the Bush administration’s weak proposal to increase fuel economy for light trucks and SUVs by a mere 1.5 miles per gallon (mpg), from 20.7 mpg today to 22.2 mpg by 2007 -- well below what is technologically feasible.