U.S. to tighten fuel efficiency, CO2 standards

WASHINGTON, July 28 (UPI) -- Washington is to announce new fuel efficiency measures for cars and light-duty trucks starting with model years 2017, a White House spokesman said.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday would announce new fuel efficiency measures meant to reduce gasoline costs and cut oil consumption.

The measure would require U.S. vehicles to average more than 50 miles per gallon and cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2025, sources familiar with the agreement told The Washington Post on condition of anonymity.

The fuel-efficiency standards would increase incrementally for model years starting in 2017. By 2016, the Post notes, car and light trucks must average more than 30 mpg and 250 grams per mile of carbon dioxide equivalent. Last year's models averaged 28.3 mpg and 314 grams of carbon dioxide per mile.

Beijing in 2009 had fuel efficiency standards of 35.8 mpg while Europe requires cars by model year 2016 to get 50 mpg, the EUobserver reported.