EPA says 2017 model year vehicle mileage increased slightly
Posted Mar 6, 2019 01:16:17 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
DETROIT — The Environmental Protection Agency says the average gas mileage for the fleet of U.S. new vehicles rose slightly in 2017 to a record 24.9 mpg.
But an environmental group says the 0.2 mpg increase fell short of the 1 mpg jump required under Obama-era rules.
The EPA says in a statement that the performance raises concerns about the industry’s ability to meet, in a cost-effective way, future requirements put in place by the Obama administration. The EPA has proposed freezing the standards at 2021 levels through 2026.
The EPA says automakers met the Obama-era standards. But the Safe Climate Campaign says that happened only because the companies used zero-emissions vehicle and other credits for technology not measured in EPA mileage tests.
Tom Krisher, The Associated Press
