In 2012, consumers and automakers had mixed feelings and reactions to the new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards that were set by the NHTSA and EPA.  Well, it's been four years and the EPA just completed a midterm analysis of phase 1 of the emissions standards, what do we know?

It looks like the situation looks optimistic. According to the EPA’s recently released proposed determination, automakers are on track to meet the 2025 standards. Here are a couple highlights directly from the EPA’s proposed determination.

• The Administrator proposed to determine that the MY 2022-2025 standards remain appropriate and that a rulemaking to change them is not warranted ...

• Auto manufacturers can meet the MY 2022-2025 standards at slightly lower per-vehicle costs than predicted in the TAR, and lower costs than predicted in the 2012 rulemaking that established the standards.

• Automakers have outperformed the standards for the first four years of the program (MY2012-2015) and manufacturers are adopting fuel efficient technologies at unprecedented rates, all while vehicle sales have increased for 6 consecutive years. There are over 100 car, SUV, and pickup versions on the market today that already meet 2020 or later standards.

GHG Emissions Standards

The EPA’s emissions standards will “result average industry level of 163 grams/mile of carbon dioxide (CO2) in model year 2025, which is equivalent to 54.5 miles per gallon (mpg)54.5 miles per gallon (mpg) (if achieved exclusively through fuel economy improvements).”

By meeting these standards it is believed that consumers will save consumers money and air quality will improve while America will reduce our environmental footprint.

According to EPA.gov, the final standards are projected to:

• Cut 6 billion metric tons of GHG over the lifetimes of the vehicles sold in model years 2012-2025;
• Save families more than $1.7 trillion in fuel costs
• Reduce America’s dependence on oil by more than 2 million barrels per day in 2025.

Phase two of the standards begins in 2017 and ends in 2025.

What are your thoughts on the EPA’s proposed determination or the GHG emissions standards? Let us know on our Facebook.