{"id":18471,"date":"2018-03-29T10:52:31","date_gmt":"2018-03-29T15:52:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/?p=18471"},"modified":"2018-03-29T10:57:52","modified_gmt":"2018-03-29T15:57:52","slug":"are-there-roadblocks-ahead-for-americas-clean-cars-standards-here-are-five-things-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/2018\/03\/29\/are-there-roadblocks-ahead-for-americas-clean-cars-standards-here-are-five-things-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Are there roadblocks ahead for America\u2019s clean cars standards? Here are five things you need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cars wait to be sold on a dealer’s lot. Photo: Every Car Listed<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

(EDF Legal Fellow Erin Murphy co-authored this post)<\/em><\/p>\n

America\u2019s clean cars standards<\/a> are one of our biggest climate success stories.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve made major strides in reducing greenhouse gas pollution since protective standards were put in place in 2012 \u2013 spurring fuel efficiency gains at the same time.<\/p>\n

New innovations have made additional progress even more clearly achievable \u2013 and have set the stage for a future free from tailpipe pollution.<\/p>\n

Yet, when it comes to cars, the Trump administration is stuck in reverse.<\/p>\n

President Trump is reportedly considering a dramatic rollback<\/a> of our existing clean cars standards. Right now, an EPA action to set this reversal in motion is under White House review.<\/p>\n

Ford broke ranks earlier this week, publicly disavowing<\/a> a rollback of these climate pollution protections.<\/p>\n

Yet it\u2019s rumored that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt will issue a decision as early as Friday that would set in motion a potentially dramatic weakening of these safeguards. It\u2019s time for policy-makers and automakers like GM, Chrysler, Honda and Toyota to take a stand and reject these baseless attacks.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what you need to know:<\/p>\n

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  1. Climate progress in the balance<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Tremendous climate progress is at stake.<\/p>\n

    EPA estimated that the clean cars program would reduce climate pollution by six billion tons<\/a> over its lifetime and cut other dangerous air pollutants as well. That\u2019s how much climate pollution America emits in a year<\/a>, from all sources and all sectors.<\/p>\n

    The American Lung Association<\/a> and twelve other public health organizations have all underscored the importance of maintaining protective clean cars standards.<\/p>\n

    The transportation sector has become America\u2019s largest contributor of climate pollution. It is also a significant source of harmful soot and smog-causing pollution.<\/p>\n

    Now is the time to accelerate reductions from this sector, not stall out. Yet leaked details<\/a> suggest the Trump administration is moving to significantly weaken upcoming standards for cars in model years 2022 to 2025 \u2013 eroding the benefits of the standards by almost 60 percent.<\/p>\n

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    1. Savings every time you fuel up<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Clean cars standards are a win-win \u2013 in addition to reducing pollution, they save consumers money at the gas pump.<\/p>\n

      This program gradually reduces climate pollution rates from cars and trucks \u2013 driving five percent reductions<\/a> each year through flexible fleet-wide standards and spurring comparable year-by-year improvements in fuel efficiency.<\/p>\n

      Drivers are already benefiting from our existing standards. For example, each Ford F-150 truck bought in 2015 uses about 180 fewer gallons of gas a year<\/a> than prior models. That saves its owner eight trips to the gas station and up to $700 per year, depending on the price of fuel.<\/p>\n

      The standards will bring even greater savings in the future. Families that purchase a new car or truck in 2025 will save an estimated $1,650 over the lifetime of that vehicle, compared to a car just three years older.<\/p>\n

      Over the lifetime of the clean cars program, the savings to American families and businesses will add up to more than a trillion dollars<\/em>.<\/p>\n

      The 86 percent of Americans who finance their car with a five-year loan are expected to immediately<\/em> realize the cost savings from cleaner, more efficient vehicles. This is true even with lower gas prices.<\/p>\n

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      1. We have the know-how to exceed these standards <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        The improvements under the existing clean cars standards are technically feasible and affordable.<\/p>\n

        Automakers and suppliers are developing and\u00a0deploying innovative technologies faster<\/a> than anticipated when the standards were finalized.<\/p>\n

        EPA, the Department of Transportation, and the California Air Resources Board conducted an exhaustive technical review of the auto industry\u2019s ability to meet the 2022 to 2025 model year standards. They found extensive evidence that the automotive industry can meet those standards at lower costs than predicted when the standards were initially finalized in 2012.<\/p>\n

        Since the clean cars program began in 2012, there has been roughly a\u00a0doubling\u00a0in<\/a> the number of SUVs that achieve 25 miles per gallon or more, the number of cars that achieve 30 miles per gallon or more, and the number of cars that achieve 40 miles per gallon or more.<\/p>\n

        Today there are already more than\u00a0100 car, SUV, and pickup models<\/a> on the market that meet standards set for 2020 and beyond.<\/p>\n

        If any changes are made, the standards should be strengthened<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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        1. Supporting American jobs and innovation now and into the future <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Well-designed federal standards foster the deployment of fuel saving solutions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

          We have seen this cycle play out over the past several years, as automakers have brought more efficient cars and trucks to market with record sales and strong profitability<\/a>.<\/p>\n

          Today, the auto industry\u00a0directly employs millions of Americans<\/a>\u00a0and employment at auto dealerships is at its highest level ever.<\/p>\n

          Automakers have recognized this strong financial performance in recent annual reports:<\/p>\n