How many miles-per-gallon does your vehicle get? If your answer was “not enough,” try to be patient - U.S. and foreign automakers will, over the next decade, be required to make more fuel-efficient vehicles. For the first time since 1975, Congress has passed a law requiring a change in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE). The nation’s fleet of cars and trucks today are required to average 25 mpg, but by 2015 that standard will be raised to 31.6 mpg with an ultimate goal of 35 mpg by 2020, a 40% increase over the next 12 years.

While 2020 might seem like a long way off in today’s world of high gas prices, the auto industry has a lot of work cut out for them. Only 2 cars today average 35 mpg - the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid. Others, like the Honda Civic, Honda Fit, Toyota Camry Hybrid, and Toyota Yaris come close, but American car companies in particular will have to get their concepts out of the auto shows and onto the roads.

These changes in fuel-efficiency standards will cut our demand on foreign oil, and also reduce the amount of harmful carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. How much will the new law save? Estimates say that the new standards should save 55 billion gallons of oil over the life of new vehicles built between 2011 and 2015. Carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 192 million metric tons per year, which is the same as removing 27 million cars from the road. Drivers will save $700-$1,000 per year in gas costs, and oil demand will decrease by 1.1 million barrels a day when the new cars and trucks are on the road.

So if you’re stuck with an SUV that gets 15 mpg, at least take heart knowing that in about 10 years, there will be plenty of other, more fuel-efficient options to choose from.

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Tags: Auto News, General Auto //