But, Detroit knew, given that GM and Chrysler had been bailed out by Washington, that it really couldn't protest. And, they really didn't have much reason too, anyway. Not with all the exemptions:
Over all, the new standards will require a 54.5 miles per gallon corporate average for 2025. That standard will be made more easily achievable by credits that automakers can earn by producing battery-powered vehicles, hybrids and alternative-fuel models. Details of how the credits will work have not yet been made public, but the intention is to encourage the development of cars with far lower emissions.So, back to the fuel standards. Detroit also accepted because they're really not THAT stringent. "Credits" for battery/hybrid cars will lower them a fair amount. As will alt-fuel cars. In short, GM, especially, is going to flood us with ethanol-burning "flex" vehicles.
Beyond that, his sellout on trucks and SUVs has rightly been protested by Volkswagen. (The truck/SUV increase is only 3.5 percent.)
I was ready to cut Obama a lot of slack on this one.
But, especially until we find out how "tight," or how "loose" all these exemptions are, especially the alt-fuel ones, no way, Jose. The fact that he's sold out on SUVs says enough, doesn't it?
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