More pre-election nonsense. This almost reads like a campaign memo.
Get ready for some crappy cars and other unintended consequences. Remember, the rise of the SUV was a direct result of the CAFE standards imposed beginning in the '70s.
Have you noticed that many new cars don't even have "donut" spares anymore? Soon, the spare tire will be a relic of the past, and when you get a flat, you are at the mercy of local help.
Also of interest is that the new standards will be enforced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It will be interesting to see how they balance compromises in safety from the further lightening of auto structures.
Also a fantasy is the static analysis of how much fuel we will really save by increasing mileage. Cheaper driving means more driving, not necessarily less fuel consumption. A better, more efficient solution is to allow fuel prices to rise naturally; something politicians, even ones purporting to be "green" are loath to do.
