Editorial: Get real about gas mileage

Thursday, March 30, 2006 | 6:34 a.m.

We have always supported federal rules that require automobile manufacturers to produce cars and trucks that get better gas mileage.

But the Bush administration's new rules for light trucks (pickups weighing less than 8,500 pounds and all SUVs and vans) are a disappointment.

Federal rules now require that this class of vehicles get an average of 21.6 miles per gallon. Beginning with the 2008 model year, incremental changes are required under the new rules, so that an average of 24 mpg is reached by 2011.

The government estimates that this rule change will save nearly 11 billion gallons of fuel over the life of the vehicles. But that is paltry compared to the need to conserve oil. Additionally, the new rules do not consider the fact that the overwhelming majority of these vehicles are used for commuting to work, errands and weekend excursions - the same way that passenger cars are used.

Light trucks should be required to meet a standard that is closer to the one for passenger cars, which is now 27.5 mpg. Ideally, in a nation serious about conservation, clean air, global warming and dependency upon foreign countries, all passenger vehicles would be required to average 30 mpg or higher.

Additionally, the new light-truck rules preclude states from individually setting higher standards.

As we see it, the new rules are merely an attempt to sidestep clearly needed higher standards that might be passed in Congress. We hope Congress sees that too, and gets to work on a bill that would provide for true conservation.