Rolling Back Fuel Economy Standards Means Higher Costs for Drivers, and a Worsening Climate - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica highlights the detrimental impact of the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back federal fuel economy standards, specifically the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rules. These standards have historically been a critical consumer protection, reducing fuel costs and environmental harm by improving vehicle efficiency. Transportation is a significant household expense, especially for low-income families, who spend a disproportionate share of their income on fuel. Under the Biden administration, strengthened CAFE standards were projected to save drivers over $23 billion in fuel costs, reduce gasoline consumption by nearly 70 billion gallons, and cut carbon emissions substantially. However, recent legislative and administrative actions have weakened enforcement and proposed further rollbacks, threatening to reverse decades of progress and lock in higher fuel consumption and emissions for years to come. Public opinion strongly favors stronger fuel economy standards, with the vast majority of drivers valuing fuel efficiency and supporting tougher regulations. The rollback not only increases costs for consumers but also exacerbates climate change and public health issues. Transportation is