Fuel Debate Put to a Vote
By CAR lobbyist Jeremy Cottrell
After several
weeks of highly contested debate within the U.S. Senate, some finality was
resolved by a vote on late Thursday. So late in fact that many senators had to
be summoned back to Capitol Hill in order to cast the necessary votes to
overcome a proposed filibuster from pro-auto senators.
In its current form, the Senate bill has three major components.
The first and most debated is an increase in average fuel economy by 40 percent to 35 miles per gallon for cars, SUVs and pickup trucks by 2020. There are many who oppose such legislation, citing the massive development and investment that virtually all auto manufacturers have made without mandates. Improved technology already in development or currently being utilized include:
hybrid vehicles that use a multi-engine design to maximize mileage between city and highway driving,
E-85 compatible vehicles-which allow engines to synthesize either regular gasoline or a blend of ethanol and gasoline,
“clean diesel”-a technology that has proven widespread success in Europe that results in lower emissions and higher fuel economy, as well as new generations of technologies not yet integrated into vehicles.
With any first-generation technology, there are strengths to be built upon and weaknesses to be corrected. Consumer demand is a significant force in directing these technological developments. It remains to be seen if legislating artificial demands will work as effectively.
The second portion of the bill addresses a set of laws outlawing energy price-gouging. Lastly, the bill focuses on a single environmental technology by raising requirements for massive increases in ethanol production. While this may be advantageous to domestic manufacturers and dealers who lead the pack with E-85 equipped vehicles, those producing or selling foreign vehicles may be frustrated as their predominant focus is on hybrid and clean diesel technologies.
This bill looks nothing like its initial conception and may look nothing like its current form. The House is expected to take up the measure next week. Additionally, the House also has a version of an energy bill, while the White House has yet another perspective.
While the debate over fuel economy and emissions standards is far from finished, this is the starting point from which adjustments either way can be made.