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Article: New fuel economy estimates are only a first step.(proposing fuel economy estimates for new cars)(Brief Article)(Column)
- Article from:
- Automotive News
- Article date:
- January 23, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Crain Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Bush administration is doing the right thing by proposing fuel economy estimates for new cars and trucks that more closely reflect what motorists can expect. But the EPA shouldn't stop there. The overdue reform will be good for consumers, potentially good for the environment and even good for automakers - provided car companies accept the change as an incentive to make vehicles less fuel-thirsty.
But the new methods of calculation seem to lack the sophistication needed to deal with emerging technologies, such as gasoline-electric hybrids. Nor does the EPA's proposal seem to give car buyers enough information about how advanced diesels, alternative fuels and ...