Proposed bill would increase fuel economy by 4 percent each year; GM calls it unrealistic.

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators on Wednesday unveiled a bill that would increase fuel economy standards for the nation's passenger cars and light trucks by 4 percent each year -- about one mile per gallon annually -- starting after model year 2009.

Looking to end the months-long impasse over increasing fuel economy standards and offer a more flexible approach, the eight senators, led by Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., introduced the Fuel Economy Reform Act of 2006.

"Unlike other bills that set numerical mandates, this one would allow the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to "revise the annual increase if (the NHTSA) concludes that the target cannot be reached with current technology or without compromising safety," it states.


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chewy - 7/20/2006 4:05:13 PM

+1 Boost

Good way to decrease fuel use is to put gas guzzler tax on ALL SUVs and pickups.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml#guzzler