According to the EPA, automobiles cause 75% of carbon monoxide pollution in the US. In addition, motor vehicles cause 1/3 of the air pollution that results in smog in the US and causes 27% of greenhouse gas emissions (Brinson). As I mentioned in the previous blog post, greenhouse gas buildup (including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases) is a major cause of global warming (“Overview”). Essentially, a high concentration of these greenhouse gases can shift the atmospheric dynamic, causing higher on average temperatures, which warms oceans, melts glaciers, and results in rising sea levels (don’t remember this, check out my last blog post or this well-written report by NASA).

So why am I talking about global warming yet again?

Well global warming is only part of it. Last week news dropped that the EPA is preparing to reduce some of the Obama Administrations’ regulations on automobile fuel efficiencies. These rollbacks have the potential to be extremely damaging to the environment.

In August of 2015, the Obama Administration finalized regulations that required cars and light-duty trucks to reach 54.5 miles per gallon by the year 2025—54.5mpg is roughly double the average fuel efficiency of cars in 2012. The administration at the time predicted that this new ruling would have to potential to ”save consumers more than $1.7 trillion at the gas pump” and “reduce US oil consumption by 12 billion barrels” (“Obama”). Obama believed that achieving these new fuel standards would encourage “innovation and investment,” which would in turn increase employment, while also curbing pollution.

As the White House mentioned in 2012, US has the technology to meet these standards—given our advanced engines, improved aerodynamics and more efficient car components. In 2018, this environmentally efficient technology has only increased in efficiency. For example, in terms of electric cars, the 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Electric can reach 136 miles per gallon, while the Tesla Model 3 can reach 130 miles per gallon. Already, there are nonelectric cars that reach close to the mark Obama set in mid-2012—Chevrolet Spark reaches 35 miles per gallon, while the Honda Civic comes in at 42 highway miles per gallon (Gorzelany). There is more work to be done in terms of making affordable fuel-efficient cars. Currently, electric cars only make up roughly 1% of global car sales. Better marketing and pricing of these electric automobile options is needed. However, in the meantime, it seems critical that the United States impose guidelines to encourage environmental conscientiousness when it comes to meeting fuel efficiency standards.

Unfortunately, the Trump Administration plans on cutting back on these environmental regulations—giving car manufacturers leeway to continue to generate new models without fuel efficiency in mind. Scott Pruitt, the infamous current head of the EPA, claims that by eliminating the fuel standard initiatives, the government can ensure more affordable truck, van and car prices—however, arguably at the cost of clean air and a healthy environment (Davenport and Tabuchi).

Interestingly, the deregulation of fuel efficiency is likely going to spark other legal battles between the federal government and the state of California (Davenport and Tabuchi). According to a NY Times article—published March 30, 2018—California “has a special wavier under the 1970 Clean Air Act empowering it to enforce stronger air pollution standards than those set by the federal government.”

California, as a coastal region with serious smog problems, will likely take fuel standards into its own hands by imposing tougher regulations than the current administration is imposing across the nation (Halper). California—much like the majority of the world—will be proactive in advancing to cleaner, fuel efficient technologies.

 

 

Will the rest of America fall behind in terms of clean energy technology without the legal sanctions necessary to enforce fuel efficiency on car manufacturers? How much of an impact will these deregulations have on the demand for American-made automobiles throughout the rest of world?

Only time will tell the answers to these questions. There always seem to be tensions when it comes to environmental policy—tensions between public officials’ opinions and the scientific community, tensions between corporate greed and conservationists, and the ultimate tensions between economic “stability” and environmental well-being.

Given that the federal government is not taking responsibility for ensuring a healthier, cleaner environment, who do you think should bare the burden? More state governments—like California—individuals, or automobile manufacturers themselves?

 

Works Cited

Brinson, Linda C. “How Much Air Pollution Comes from Cars?” HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 29 Aug. 2012, auto.howstuffworks.com/air-pollution-from-cars.htm.

Davenport, Coral, and Hiroko Tabuchi. “E.P.A. Prepares to Roll Back Rules Requiring Cars to Be Cleaner and More Efficient.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 29 Mar. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/climate/epa-cafe-auto-pollution-rollback.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news.

Gorzelany, Jim. “10 Most Fuel-Efficient Non-Hybrid/Electric Cars For 2018.” Motor1.Com, Motor1.Com, Edition: USA / Global, 12 Feb. 2018, www.motor1.com/features/228496/most-fuel-efficient-cars/2851148/).

Halper, Evan. “EPA Poised to Scrap Fuel Economy Targets That Are Key to Curbing Global Warming – Setting up Clash with California.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2018, www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-mileage-epa-rule-20180329-story.html.

“Overview of Greenhouse Gases.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 14 Apr. 2017, www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases.

“Obama Administration Finalizes Historic 54.5 MPG Fuel Efficiency Standards.” National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives and Records Administration, obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/08/28/obama-administration-finalizes-historic-545-mpg-fuel-efficiency-standard.