A long-delayed federal report on future technology for making vehicles more efficient finds several options that could boost mileage by 50% but add up to $9,000 to the cost of a new vehicle.
The study by the National Academies of Science was supposed to be released in 2008, but took longer than expected and was outpaced by Congress, the Obama administration and California officials as they set new fuel economy standards.
The government has set a target for new U.S. vehicles to average 34.1 m.p.g. by 2016, with reductions in carbon emissions raising the requirement to 35.5 m.p.g.The panel found that based on a 2007 vehicle, available technology could boost a typical gasoline engine's efficiency by 29% at a cost of $2,200. Switching to diesel engines would offer a 37% increase for $5,900 per vehicle, while a hybrid could offer up to a 50% improvement for $9,000.
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