Biden finalizes another softened fuel economy rule, still saves US billions
The Department of Transportation has finalized its newest Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, requiring an increase in fuel economy that will reduce pollution and save Americans $23 billion in fuel costs. But like other recently adopted standards, they are nevertheless softer than the administration had originally sought.
The new CAFE standards cover model years 2027-2031 and target a fuel economy increase of 2% per year, bringing average fuel economy for light duty vehicles up to 50.4 miles per gallon in 2031. The increases are larger for heavy duty pickups and vans, with 10% increases from 2030-2032 and 8% from 2033-2035, targeting 35mpg average for these vehicles by 2035.
The DoT says the new rule will save car and truck owners $600-700 over the lifetime of their vehicles, and save the country $23 billion in fuel costs total. They will reduce carbon emissions by 710 million tons and save 70 billion gallons of gas by 2050.
Nevertheless, these rules are much softer than the administration had originally proposed, as the proposed rule would have targeted 55.7mpg, rather than 50.4mpg.
(Note: CAFE fuel economy calculations are more lenient than EPA calculations, especially on electric vehicles (though that calculation just changed too), so cars won’t see an average of 50mpg in the real world)
These numbers are much lower than the effect of the EPA’s newly-finalized emissions rules, which the administration said will save $100 billion per year in fuel and health costs, cut 7 billion tons of climate pollution, and save $6,000 per vehicle. Those standards were also softened from the original proposal in response to automaker lobbying.
The two rules are meant to complement each other, attacking the problem of pollution and fuel costs from different angles.
The EPA’s rules regulate tailpipe pollution in a technology-agnostic way, allowing automakers flexibility in how they meet higher emissions standards. And CAFE simply sets an average fuel economy requirement – which is also technology-agnostic, and automakers can meet it by increasing efficiency in whatever way they see fit.
In either case, a higher electric vehicle share is the easiest way to meet the new numbers, so both will encourage automakers to offer more consumer choice of high-tech, low-polluting electric vehicles. The DoE also recently reduced how much “extra credit” EVs get, which means automakers can’t just sell a few EVs to meet higher targets, and will have to offer a greater EV share. This new calculation will make the new CAFE rules more effective, offsetting some of the disappointment from the lower mileage target.
The complementary rules will also be more resilient to legal challenges from a republican party that is hostile to human health and the pocketbooks of Americans. Senator Ted Cruz already said that he will try to reverse the money-saving rule through the Congressional Review Act, though it is unlikely that this effort will bear fruit.
In addition, several republican attorneys general have already filed suit against the EPA regulation, demanding that Americans be saddled with higher fuel costs and more poisonous air in order to satiate their donors in Big Oil. And the convicted felon running for president on the republican ticket has told oil companies he will take $1 billion in bribes in exchange for efforts to make cars more expensive for Americans.
But both are well within the purview of the EPA’s and DoT’s mandates, as has been recognized many times in the past. And even if the US supreme court ignores the law to rule against one (as they have done before), the other might survive for longer.
Reaction to today’s CAFE rule was mixed. Environmental and health groups were mostly positive on it with Sierra Club and American Lung Association supporting the changes, though Dan Becker of the Center for Biological Diversity said the rules don’t go far enough and that the administration “caved to automaker pressure.”
Automakers, for their part, supported the changes, through the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the main automaker lobbyist. AAI President John Bozzella (who we have repeatedly covered for lying to support more pollution) said that the rule “works with the other recent federal tailpipe rules,” which was AAI’s main desire – to ensure that the various government rules were complementary of one another, instead of in conflict. That said, given his opposition to reasonable rules in the past, his acceptance of this rule does inspire some skepticism.
Beyond these rules, the administration has implemented lots of other policies to encourage the transition to EVs.
To take care of upfront costs, the Inflation Reduction Act includes credits for light- and heavy-duty EV purchases and charger installations, along with incentives for domestic manufacturing. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law incentivizes chargers further.
On the commercial/heavy side, ports get specific support from the Clean Ports Program, as do school buses, and the EPA is ensuring that California will remain a testbed for even better environmental rules. The administration also recently released a master infrastructure plan to electrifying all the US’ freight routes by 2040.
Biden also recently increased tariffs on EVs, supposedly to help encourage domestic manufacturing. But this is probably the wrong way to approach the problem.
Electrek’s Take
We can basically copy our Take from any other recent article on these emissions standards.
On the one hand, it’s great to see things moving forward, and the government does seem to be working on electrification from every angle.
On the other hand, this doesn’t move forward fast enough, and we need to stop listening to automakers begging government to let them go bankrupt as they refuse to move quickly enough on the transition.
The transition is coming, and within a couple decades, every car on the road has to be electric. Not only are they better, and consumer demand will move in the direction of EVs for that reason anyway (likely in advance of targets, as we’ve seen before), but rapid electrification of transport is required if we want to have any chance of avoiding the worst effects of climate change.
At this point, we cannot move to cleaner transport fast enough, and any standard yet proposed by any nation is not strong enough to meet the environmental needs of the planet. So all of these standards could bear to be stronger, this one among them.
We still need to celebrate movement in the right direction, and recognize that the opposition wants to move in a worse direction, which would cause more harm to Americans and to every living being on Earth.
But we can be disappointed and ask for more, which we do again today, as we have in the past.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Mercedes-Benz is gearing up to unveil the electric version of its best-selling SUV, the GLC, later this year. With its official debut just around the corner, Mercedes revealed a few new details, offering an exclusive first look at the new EV.
Mercedes offers an exclusive look at the new electric GLC
Although we got a sneak peek of the electric SUV in March during winter testing in Northern Sweden, Mercedes is giving us a better idea of what to expect.
“We’re not just introducing a new model – we’re electrifying our top seller,” Mercedes-Benz Group CEO, Ola Källenius, said on Thursday.
Mercedes promises the electric GLC “sets new standards” with a sleek new design, advanced tech, and its new MB.OS operating system.
The new GLC EV is an upgrade over the current model, offering significantly more space and improved ride quality. Since the wheelbase is 3.1″ longer than the current gas-powered SUV, the electric version has more legroom and headroom for front and rear passengers.
With all the seats folded, the electric SUV offers 61.4 cubic feet of space. The gas-powered model features up to 56.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Plus, you get an extra 4.5 cu ft of space in the trunk (front trunk).
Källenius said that with Mercedes’ new 800V electric architecture and latest batteries, the electric GLC can regain around 260 km (161 miles) WLTP range in just ten minutes. He added that DC fast charging at over 320 kW is possible.
The GLC 400 4MATIC with EQ Technology will arrive with impressive towing capability of up to 5,291 lbs. In comparison, the Tesla Model Y can only tow up to 3,500 lbs.
Added features, such as ESP trailer stabilization and trailer maneuvering assistant, make it even easier to tow with optimized stability and control.
Källenius also teased the new electric GLC design, calling it the start of a “new era” and “a new face of the brand as the first in a family of upcoming vehicles.”
The inside is just as impressive, providing a holistic experience. A “majestically floating next generation MBUX Hyperscreen” is optional, providing a spatial experience powered by the new MB.OS supercomputer.
Mercedes will unveil the new electric GLC at the 2025 International Motor Show in Munich on September 7, 2025.
Although official range figures will be revealed at the event, according to Car and Driver, which tested a prototype model, Mercedes said it expects the new GLC to provide a WLTP range of just over 400 miles, or slightly more than 300 miles on the EPA scale, from a 94.5 kWh battery.
Prices will also be announced in due time, but given that the current GLC 350e 4MATIC PHEV starts at $59,900 in the US, you can expect the electric model to be priced slightly higher, at around $65,000.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Tesla (TSLA) announced its 2025 annual shareholders meeting at the very last minute, and it pushed it all the way to November, the latest it has ever held the meeting.
Tesla generally holds its annual meeting in the summer and announces it way ahead of time.
Today, the automaker announced that the meeting will be held on November 6:
The board of directors (the “Board”) of Tesla, Inc. (“Tesla”) has designated November 6, 2025 as the date of Tesla’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders (the “2025 Annual Meeting”).
This is highly unusual for Tesla. Here are the dates of Tesla’s last 5 annual meetings:
- 2020: September 22, 2020
- 2021: October 7, 2021
- 2022: August 4, 2022
- 2023: May 16, 2023
- 2024: June 13, 2024
At those meetings, shareholders vote on several matters, including the reelection of directors and shareholders’ proposals.
Tesla has not released any yet, but they are expected to be in the upcoming proxy statement, which Tesla should release in the coming weeks.
Why does Tesla need more time?
Electrek’s Take
I think Tesla is working on some proposals that are going to take time to put together and then to sell to shareholders – hence why the meeting is set for November.
There are two suspects: a new CEO compensation package for Musk or a merger/acquisition of xAI.
It could also be both, but I think that would be harder to swallow for some shareholders as both initiatives have a clear aim of giving Musk a bigger stake in Tesla.
I think sane investors should not want that, but Tesla shareholders don’t fit in that category. Much of Tesla’s value is attached to Musk’s lies and ridiculous predictions. The value will have to come down to reality at some point, but they are a bunch of gamblers who are enjoying the ride in the meantime.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
A three-row electric SUV for less than $30,000? Sign me up. NIO (NYSE: NIO) opened pre-orders for the new Onvo L90 on Thursday, starting from 193,900 yuan, or about $27,000.
NIO kicks off Onvo L90 pre-orders in China
NIO claims the Onvo L90 is the lightest full-size three-row SUV in its class, with a curb weight just under 5,000 lbs (2,250 kg). In comparison, the Lucid Gravity has a curb weight of 5,966 lbs (2,712 kg).
The new flagship model is designed as a family-friendly SUV, offering ample interior space and advanced technology.
At 5,145 mm long, 1,998 mm wide, and 1,766 mm tall, the Onvo L90 is slightly bigger than the Lucid Gravity. In China, it will go head-to-head with higher-end electric SUVs like Li Auto’s L9.
However, the L9 is an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) and starts at around 409,800 yuan ($57,000), more than double the price of the Onvo L90.
The low price of 193,900 yuan ($27,000) applies only to those who rent the battery. Nio’s Battery as a Service (BaaS) costs 899 yuan ($125) a month. With the battery included, the Onvo L90 still starts at just 279,900 yuan ($39,000).
Nio’s new electric SUV is offered in six and seven-seat configurations. The interior features a massive 17.2″ floating infotainment screen at the center.
Other interior highlights include a three-zone climate control system, massage, heating, and ventilation for every seat, as well as an additional entertainment screen for rear passengers. And like many new vehicles in China nowadays, it even comes with a built-in refrigerator.
Powered by an 85 kWh battery, the Onvo L90 offers a CLTC range of 605 km (367 miles). It’s also based on NIO’s next-gen 900V platform, unlocking class-leading energy consumption of just 14.5 kWh per 100 km.
Buyers can choose from single and all-wheel-drive powertrains. The AWD version boasts up to 590 hp (440 kW), good for a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) sprint in just 4.7 seconds.
NIO is offering an incentive for early pre-order holders. Those who place an order with a 2,000 yuan deposit will receive a 5,000 yuan credit off the vehicle and an extra 5,000 yuan for optional features and more. Nio plans to begin delivering Onvo L90 to customers, starting on August 1.
The L90 is the second Onvo-branded EV to arrive in China, following the smaller L60, launched last September.
Source: CarNewsChina, NIO Onvo
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike