During my senior year in high school, I remember hearing that by 2020 all cars have to be made with at least 35 miles per gallon. Today, we are seeing cars that are surpassing that and its only 2012. There are more hybrid cars on the road and more companies are making hybrid model cars. To top that, newer model cars (2012 and up) are beginning to add more mileage to non-hybrid cars like the Chevy Cruze and the Toyota Corolla.
Just last year, President Obama moved that mileage up to 36 miles per gallon by 2016, and while working with the automotive industry, GM and Asian car makers signed a deal willing to go up to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. That will be a huge relief for people like you and me when we have to fill up at the gas station.
More efficient gasoline engine configurations and the move towards electrified vehicles like hybrids and electric vehicles, have been spurred by climate change and the realization that oil will not be around forever. Smaller vehicles that come with better gas mileage are more popular now than their counterpart SUV’s. Thanks to an increase in gas prices, more and more people are opting to buy smaller more fuel efficient cars. I know my next purchase will be one…but I am still hoping that the Jeep Cherokee will come out with a hybrid model or just increase their 15 mpg’s.
As I mentioned before, the Chevy Cruze was one of the hottest cars to drive off the lot in 2011. A small compact four-door car, it carries a nice price tag of just under $20,000 and is in my opinion one of the nicest looking sedan’s on the road today. Their Eco edition can boost 42 miles per gallon, and just to clarify…this car is not a hybrid.
Other cars that are expanding to hybrids include the Buick LaCrosse, Buick Regal, Porsche Panamera, and the new Toyota Prius C and Prius V. By the end of this year and early 2013, Audi A6 and A8 series, BMW 5 series, and Volkswagon’s Passat, Golf and Jetta will all be hybrid.
There are more options today and more models to come and continue on forth to a future where we will not have to go to the pump too often.
References:
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/2012-chevy-cruze-eco-mileage-gain-pain/story?id=13699160#.TzCzFVy5weQ