Biden administration sets new fuel standards to take effect by 2031

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — New cars rolling off the lot will get better gas mileage in the coming years.

A new Transportation Department rule requires automakers to increase fuel efficiency yearly starting with model year 2027 for certain vehicles. By 2031, the department says cars could be getting an average of 50 miles per gallon.

The DOT says this will save drivers money at the pump and cut pollution.

Dan Becker with the environmental group, Center for Biological Diversity, says the rule doesn’t go far enough.

“It will do that, but stronger rules would have done much more,” Becker said.

He notes the Biden administration had initially proposed higher yearly improvements.

“We would’ve saved much more if the auto companies hadn’t lobbied to weaken the rules, and the administration had stronger rules that required more clean car technology,” Becker said.

The DOT estimates the rule will save drivers more than $600 over the lifetime of their cars.

However, conservative groups say the move will limit customer choice and drive up prices.

“The best mile per gallon rule requirement would be no rule requirement at all,” Heritage Foundation Research Fellow Joel Griffith said.

Joel Griffith, with the Heritage Foundation, says the administration’s push against gas vehicles ultimately hurts American energy independence.

“They want to put the fossil fuel car out of business. That deters the investment today that we need to ensure we have abundant affordable fuel sources for tomorrow,” Griffith said.

The new rule comes as President Biden has set a goal that half of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2030 are electric.

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