In 2009, President Obama announced an increase in mileage requirements. That increase in mileage was, in fact, the largest since the consumption of gasoline by cars started being regulated, in the year 1970. The government fuel rules were requiring the American carmakers to increase, from the current 27 MPG , to 54,5 MPG (miles per gallon) by 2025.

This was an extremely difficult goal. The automobile industry had not only to develop their car technology faster but also to keep their vehicles in an acceptable price for the consumers.

Surprisingly, the industry is not only doing well on the required reductions, but they are actually progressing really fast and going ahead of schedule. “Nearly one-third of U.S vehicles on sale today already meet the required standard for 2016” says Michael Olechiw, the director of the Light-Duty Vehicle Center.

Some of the actual improvements in the cars are these:

–       Continuously variable transmissions.

–       Automatic transmissions with more gears (up to 9).

–       Direct injections.

 

This increase in mileage requirements also made the auto companies get better building small cars, some of which are gas-electric hybrids. However, the prices of electric motors and high-voltage battery packs will have to come down to be more accessible for customers.

Another great development has been the Fuel Cell Vehicles. FCVs (Fuel Cell Vehicles) use a fuel cell, which converts the chemical energy into electricity, to power the electric motor. Currently there is just one manufacturer, which is in California, that deploys these types of cars. However, it is expected that in 2015 another manufacturers will join.

Here’s an image of how this vehicles work.

 

Benefits of better gas mileage

With better gas mileage vehicles, we’re burning less fuel (Gasoline, diesel), which reduce the release of greenhouse gases such as CO2. This way, we’re helping the environment with the global warming.

Here is a graphic of the advantages of using vehicles with more MPG from the site http://www.fueleconomy.gov/.

 

As a matter of fact, the auto industry is doing such a great job that during the 2014 St. Louis Auto Show the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Gina McCarthy, praised them.

Nevertheless, there are many upcoming challenges that the industry will have to face. For example, the cost of vehicles, many customers may not afford the use of these types of cars. That’s the reason the industry should keep trying to low the general prices of these types of vehicles.

In case you are interested on knowing more about gas mileage and fuel economy, I suggest the forward readings:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/30/business/energy-environment/obama-reveals-details-of-gas-mileage-rules.html?_r=0

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/pdfs/guides/feg2014.pdf

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1093686_auto-industry-doing-fine-in-meeting-gas-mileage-goals-it-turns-out