Automotive
America witnessed a notable surge in fuel efficiency amongst recent vehicles in 2022, reaching an unprecedented milestone. The info, released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed that the typical fuel economy soared to 26 miles per gallon (mpg), marking probably the most substantial annual improvement in nine years.
This notable achievement was attributed, largely, to the burgeoning sales of electrical vehicles (EVs), which experienced a substantial uptick throughout the yr. Despite this positive trend, the report underscored a persistent gap amongst automakers, with the Detroit Three—comprising Stellantis, General Motors, and Ford—lagging behind their competitors when it comes to fuel efficiency.
The EPA Administrator, Michael Regan, hailed the report as a testament to the automotive industry’s historic progress in mitigating climate pollution and reducing harmful emissions. In keeping with the EPA, the inclusion of electrical vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles contributed to a 0.6 mpg increase over the previous yr. The agency anticipates an additional rise in fuel economy, projecting a mean of 26.9 mpg for 2023.
A noteworthy aspect highlighted within the report was the trading of emissions credits amongst automakers. Tesla emerged as a big player, selling additional emissions credits, while General Motors and Mercedes-Benz purchased credits to satisfy regulatory requirements. Stellantis, GM, and Ford ranked lower in fuel efficiency in comparison with Tesla, Hyundai, and Honda.
The report also make clear shifting consumer preferences, as Americans continued to veer away from traditional cars in favor of SUVs. Sedans and wagons constituted only 27% of total vehicle sales in 2022, with SUVs claiming a majority share of 54%.
Despite the progress in electric vehicle adoption, Dave Cooke, a senior vehicles analyst on the Union of Concerned Scientists, cautioned that emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles had seen minimal improvement since 2015. Cooke emphasized that automakers needed to accentuate efforts to scale back emissions from conventional gasoline vehicles, which still dominate the market.
Looking ahead, the EPA projected further growth within the production of electrical vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and fuel-cell vehicles, reaching 12% of total production in 2023. The typical range of EVs also reached a brand new high of 305 miles, a considerable increase from 2011 levels.
In response to the report, various stakeholders within the automotive industry voiced their opinions on proposed emissions regulations. The EPA’s ambitious plan for a 56% reduction in fleet average emissions by 2032, with an aim to make 67% of latest vehicles electric by that yr, faced divergent perspectives. While environmental advocates like Dan Becker from the Center for Biological Diversity’s Secure Climate Transport Campaign called for much more stringent regulations, automakers and the United Auto Employees union sought potential modifications to the EPA’s proposal. The finalization of those regulations is poised to play an important role in shaping the trajectory of the U.S. automotive landscape within the years to return.
Source: Reuters
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