The engine, transmission and rear end are all original and have never required major overhaul. The 72-year-old Ely chalks up the car's longevity to regular oil changes at 3,000 miles and careful attention to any maintenance issues. We chalk it up to a 1970 split bumper Camaro being driven by an old lady as being totally awesome. Check out the short interview at a CBS affiliate via the link below. (Hat tip to Michael!) [Breitbart, SuperChevy]

First of all, the IRS lets you determine the amount of your deductible car expense using one of two methods: the standard mileage rate method or the actual expense method. To use the standard mileage rate there's a variety of tests you need to meet, but they're all pretty straightforward — you must own or lease the car; the car must not be used for hire, for example as a taxi; you must not operate five or more cars at the same time, as in a fleet operation; etc. To use the actual expense method, you must determine what it actually costs to operate the car for business purposes. Include gas, oil, repairs, tires, insurance, registration fees, licenses, and depreciation (or lease payments) attributable to business miles driven.

Because of the recent rate change, it's probably more relevant for us to talk about method, but the IRS suggests you should run the numbers both ways to see which offers the greater deduction. Since we'll be using the standard mileage rate method, here's the straightforward calculation to use:

# Of Miles x $0.585 = Deduction Amount

Two more things to note are that the IRS allows other car expenses for parking fees, and tolls attributable to business use as separately deductible, whether you use the standard mileage rate or actual expenses. The other notable is more like a tip — document everything. You're dealing with the government here, so make sure you supply enough paperwork to convince them that even if you're gaming the system, you're at least doing it meticulously. Photographs are essential, along with trip dates, times, distances, destinations, persons spoken with and on what business.

Now that that's out of the way, let's get on to the fun part. For purposes of this hypothetical scenario we're going to be using a 2003 Saab 9-5, mainly because we happen to have one lying around. Purchased used, this vehicle has a monthly payment of approximately $300. Add on the insurance and annual registration fees, and we're talking about $350 a month. All we'll need to do is add on the cost of gas for the month at the end to determine whether we'll be able to deduct all of our costs.

So — can we get the man to pay? Let's find out.

Example I: Visit co-workers you wouldn't ordinarily see: DEDUCTIBLE

570 miles x $0.585 per mile = $333.45

Two days in and we're already two-thirds of the way to our goal — this may be easier than we thought.

Example II: Find ways to make work-related trips secondarily personal: DEDUCTIBLE

60 miles x $0.585 per mile = $35.10

Example III: A quick stop on a personal trip: NOT DEDUCTIBLE

0 miles x $0.585 per mile = $0.00

Example IV: Buy your personal goods when you head out to buy work-related supplies: PARTIALLY DEDUCTIBLE

90 miles x $0.585 per mile = $52.65

The Bottom Line

If you've got your graphing calculator humming, you'll see we could have racked up 1,210 miles with 650 of those miles reimbursable, for a total of $421.20. But how much gas did we use? Well, we get an average of 25 MPG in the Saab. Divide 1,210 miles by 25 MPG and we purchased 48.4 gallons of mid-grade gas. At $4.10 a gallon average for mid-grade at the station down the block, that's a fuel cost of $198.44. Add that to the $350 and you'll see that we needed $548.44. Aww, just a little too little business driving this month to pick up the entire cost.

Still, that would have paid for the Saab's car note, insurance, and a little something leftover for a few gallons. Sort of. Remember, your deductions aren't like real cash, so you're really just able to say the money you spent was spent without federal taxes, not like it's that full amount back in your pocket. So what did we learn today? Drive more for business than you do for pleasure, and you'll still probably end up getting screwed in the end — but at least you'll get screwed less!

For more information, please check either IRS Publication 463 or check with a tax accountant. (Photo Credit: StreetsBlog.org)

Gas-Guzzler Trade-In Calculator Introduced by Edmunds.comSANTA MONICA, Calif. — June 30, 2008 — Should you dump the SUV for a gas-sipper? That's the question everyone is asking these days.

Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, helps consumers answer that question with today's release of its Gas-Guzzler Trade-In Calculator. The tool helps consumers determine the pay-back period and fuel savings associated with trading-in a fuel-thirsty vehicle for a more fuel-efficient one.

"Car buyers think they can save money by dumping their gas-guzzler and purchasing a gas-sipper," said Philip Reed, Senior Consumer Advice Editor for Edmunds.com. "But when you look at the big picture — total cash out of pocket — a very different situation is often revealed."

A common example demonstrates the potential pitfalls of ditching that SUV: A consumer trades in a four-year old GMC Yukon, worth $13,483, for a new $21,647 Toyota Prius. The difference is $8,164. If the consumer drives 1,200 miles per month and gas costs $4.07 per gallon (national average), the monthly fuel savings will be $201.34. While this may seem attractive, it will take 41 months to pay back the additional cost of the Prius over the trade-in value of the Yukon.

The Gas-Guzzler Trade-In Calculator prompts users to select the vehicle they are considering and the vehicle they would sell or trade-in. The calculator automatically provides the Edmunds.com True Market Value® prices (the average price that people are currently paying for each vehicle), as well as the anticipated fuel mileage of the two vehicles. Consumers then input their monthly mileage and local gas price, and the calculator displays the monthly fuel savings, as well as the number of months to "break-even".

"Americans hate high gas prices," said Reed. "However, it's important to calm down and look closely at the dollars and cents. If people make a panicked car-buying decision they could lose thousands of dollars just to save hundreds of bucks at the pump."

[Source: Edmunds]

We sort of actually admire what Toyota is trying to do here, and we don't disagree with some of their suggestions. But the whole exercise reeks of marketing. The thing is, in this age where "going green" is the flavor of the day, they're marketing better than the competition.

Consider it like this: Toyota is promoting conservation strategies in a direct, forthright manner on its corporate blog at the same time Chrysler is offering to subsidize your conspicuous gasoline consumption. This, despite the fact that equivalently-equipped current Toyota Tundra and Dodge Ram pickups get almost identical mileage (16 MPG combined vs. 15 MPG combined — although we hear the new 2009 Dodge Ram supposedly blows those numbers out of the water). But who's going to win the perception game in the era of $4-and-up gas? After all, perception is everything. [Open Road Blog]

7) Don't Drive
This is the tip we obviously advocate the least, so of course we're dropping it to the bottom of the list — but it's also at the top of the post. Maybe that's because driving is the worst way to save on gas, so the easiest way to avoid paying big oil is to stay home. Of course that can be a tall order, so you can at least try to stay more local and enjoy the delights of your hometown. Heck, why not just throw a last minute barbeque and make all your friends come to you?

6) Clean all that crap out of your car
Keeping your JV football gear in the trunk doesn't make much sense now that you're 34. Clean your car, ya hobo! While holding on to all those cheeseburger wrappers and empty pop bottles might seem like a good idea, keeping them in the car is not. "Weight is the enemy of performance" as Colin Chapman used to say, it's also the enemy of boosting your anemic gas mileage. Those SUV's are big for a reason — they carry a crapload of crap. So if you're planning a trip, clean the junk out.

5) Air up those tires
Friction between the tires and the road are a healthy source of overall energy loss. The more contact between the tire and the road the more friction. Making sure tires are at the maximum recommended pressure is a good way to see easy improvements in both fuel economy and ride and handling.

4) Keep your car well maintained
Oil in the pan going on 10,000 miles? Wheel bearings all wobbly? Power steering pump groaning under the weight of an uncaring owner? These are all things which are not only dentrimental for the car but also have a negative impact on mileage. If you're mechanically-inclined, get down to your local parts depot and get to wrenching. If you're not, slide on over to your favorite grease monkey and let him fix it for you. Your car will love you for it.

3) Avoid high traffic areas
Idling wastes vast quantities of fuel every year, and running at low speeds in bumper to bumper traffic is just as bad. So if you have the choice, plan your travel times and routes to correspond to times when the roadway is free and clear of the destraction and fuel-wasting of others. Deciding to make the run out to the country from downtown at 4:30 in the afternoon is a sure fire way to waste a quarter tank.

2) Law of conservation of energy

My favorite pastime is getting into a huge SUV and racing all the other cars to the next stoplight. What can I say, I'm an idiot. If this sounds like you, congrats because you get terrible fuel economy. Try to work with — instead of against — stop lights. Most of the time lights are timed to match posted speed limits and if you work things right, you may never have to use your brakes. Brakes of course being the easiest way to transform the power derived from gasoline into heat, which, generally doesn't do any good for you. More importantly however will be the gas burned getting yourself back up to 75 MPH. What do you mean the speed limit on Woodward's only 45 MPH near 13 Mile?

1) Slow down, you maniac
Here's a better idea to those of us who are of obsessed with the cult of cars than tip #7, because at least you'll be driving. That shiny new car of yours may be fast as all get out, but mashing the gas and doing 80 MPH on the freeway will ensure cars are the only thing you're passing. Going posted speeds or below is boring and tiresome, but it pays dividends on the fuel mileage side. You know this and we know this, neither of us have to like it.

You should also check out Popular Mechanics top ten ways to save gas by hypermilling if you're looking for more tips — you know we're fans of that particular game. But above all, have a safe and enjoyable weekend everyone.

No brainer type stuff like switching to radial tires from bias ply, building headlight covers to improve the airflow around the front, a big chin spoiler to reduce drag under the car and other types of tricks netted an impressive effect of 25% mileage gained. The whole thing was done very scientifically and all the details with charts and such are over at Ecomodder. Wonder how some of those would work on the old premium swilling A4?

By using good old fashioned common sense. Really, there isn't anything surprising here — The modifications include the following:

• chopping the top (reduction of frontal area)
• stripping out all unnecessary weight - giving us that sexy camino shape
• using super hard tires (reduction of rolling resist)
• shifting the 4 cylinder engine to a mid mount and replacing the driveline with a chain (improvement of driveline efficiency)
• And perhaps most shockingly - driving slow. 30 mph during the test.

Press Release:

SANTA MONICA, Calif., August 1, 2007 —The Automotive X PRIZE (AXP), a competition designed to inspire a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles to help break our addiction to oil and stem the effects of climate change, announced today that over 30 teams have signed a letter of intent to compete once the prize is officially funded and launched.

The international competition, in which qualified teams will compete head to head, aims to dramatically increase consumer access to ultra-efficient, clean, affordable and desirable vehicles. The 30 plus teams include diverse groups from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland. More than 300 additional teams have inquired about joining and are actively considering entry.

"We are thrilled with the wide variety of teams and technologies from around the world that have expressed an interest in joining the competition," said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, CEO and Chairman, X PRIZE Foundation. "We are confident that the Automotive X PRIZE will motivate and bring visibility to a range of non-traditional solutions from both traditional and non-traditional players. The time for incremental change is over. We need radical breakthroughs to stem the consumption of fossil fuels. An X PRIZE can help make this happen."

The independent and technology-neutral AXP competition is open to teams from around the world to prove they can design, build and bring to market 100 MPG or equivalent fuel economy vehicles that people want to buy. Industry experts will scrutinize team plans. Those that qualify will race their vehicles in rigorous cross-country stages that combine speed, distance, urban driving and overall performance. The winners will be the vehicles that exceed 100 MPG equivalent, fall under strict emissions caps and finish in the fastest time.

"In just a short time, we have seen a tremendous enthusiasm for the Automotive X PRIZE," said Donald J. Foley, executive director of the AXP. "We believe this enthusiasm reflects the strong interest among the car-driving public for new options of super-efficient vehicles. It is clear energy legislation in Congress will fall far short of encouraging the type of breakthroughs that are needed to provide a new generation of ultra-efficient vehicles. We have designed AXP to be a technology-neutral competition to help provide this new generation of vehicles, and we are pleased that the fairness of our competition guidelines has been ratified by the interest among a wide variety of teams and technologies."

The competition is expected to travel through multiple cities while broadcast to a global audience in 2009 and 2010, building consumer demand for vehicles in the competition and demonstrating many practical, clean and affordable vehicle options. Cities involved in the competition route have not yet been chosen.

Reflecting the nature of the non-partisan effort, two leading members of Congress on energy issues, Senators Richard G. Lugar (R-IN) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), have expressed their support for the AXP.

The AXP has also received support and encouragement from several government agencies that will help the privately-funded organization conduct the competition and test vehicle compliance, including the U.S. Department of Energy and Argonne National Laboratory; the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway, Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHA); the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ); and the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

In addition, non-governmental organizations supporting the AXP include the National Resources Defense Council, Union of Concerned Scientists, the Apollo Alliance, the Consumer Federation of America, Global Green USA, CALSTART and Greenpeace among others.

The AXP has recently finalized a supporting sponsorship from Adobe. Other early AXP sponsors and donors include Idealab, Ray Sidney of Big George Ventures, the Elbaz Foundation, and the Jack D. Hidary Foundation.

Once fundraising for the prize purse and administration is complete, the AXP will officially launch. "We are seeking assistance from major foundations, corporations and philanthropic individuals to help bring about this revolution in transportation," Diamandis said. "Visionary individuals and organizations have risen to this type of challenge before by backing the Ansari X PRIZE for personal spaceflight, and the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics. We're confident we can build a financial base for this competition as well, and expect one or more heroes to rise to this challenge."

The following 30 teams have signed a letter of intent signaling their intent to apply for the AXP competition:

* Aptera Motors - California, USA
* Commuter Cars Corp. - Washington, USA
* Cornell University - New York, USA
* DEHyds - Washington, USA
* Delta Motorsport - Northants, UK
* Desert Fuel - Arizona, USA
* Disruptech - California, USA
* Dragonfly Technology LTD - Northhampton, UK
* Fuel Vapor Technologies - British Columbia, Canada
* GreenIt! - Oregon, USA
* Herf Duo - Berlin, Germany
* HyKinesys - California, USA
* Kinetic Vehicles - Oregon, USA
* Kuttner Doran Inventions - Virginia, USA
* Loremo AG - Munich, Germany
* Maine Automotive X - Maine, USA
* MDI, Inc. & Zero Pollution Motors LLC - New York, USA
* Michigan Vision - Michigan, USA
* MotoTron Corporation - Wisconsin, USA
* Phoenix Motorcars - California, USA
* Porteon Electric Vehicles, Inc. - Oregon, USA
* Prometheus Systems, LLC - Arizona, USA
* Psycho-Active - Georgia, USA
* Roane Inventions - Texas, USA
* Society for Sustainable Mobility - California, USA
* Spirit One - Alberta, Canada
* Valentin Technologies - Wisconsin, USA
* Tesla Motors - California, USA
* Velozzi - California, USA
* X Tracer - Winterthur, Switzerland
* ZAP Motors - California, USA

ABOUT THE AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE

The goal of the Automotive X PRIZE (AXP) is to inspire a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles that help break our addiction to oil and stem the effects of climate change. The multi-million dollar AXP purse will be awarded to the teams that win a stage race for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 miles per gallon equivalent fuel economy. For more information please visit auto.xprize.org or email autoprize@xprize.org.

ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION

The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. On October 4, 2004, the X PRIZE Foundation captured world headlines when Mojave Aerospace Ventures, led by legendary aircraft designer Burt Rutan and Microsoft Co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world's first private vehicle to space twice in two weeks to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE. The Foundation has since expanded its mission beyond space exploration to offer new prizes for breakthroughs in the life sciences, energy and the environment, education and global entrepreneurship. In October of 2006, the X PRIZE Foundation announced the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for genomics, which will reward the first private effort to map 100 human genomes in 10 days ushering in a new era of personalized preventative medicine. For more information please visit www.xprize.org or email press@xprize.org

Senate Adopts an Energy Bill Raising Mileage for Cars [NYT]

Related:
Senate Panel Goes CAFE-Crazy, Sets 35 MPG Standard By 2020; Forbes on CAFE Standards: Let the Market Dictate [internal]

Granted, Jalopnik advising on fuel chemistry is like Lindsay Lohan interpreting the Dead Sea Scrolls. But we've been hearing about this acetone fuel-additive trick for years now, and we've just been hipped to the supposed video test proving its worth. Apparently, acetone aids in the vaporization of fuel, which increases thermal efficiency. In that way, it makes gasoline act more like propane or natural gas, which is often said to be the most efficient of the fossil fuels for internal combustion. We're not advocating running out and trying this without serious considerations, especially since an acetone spill will make your paint look like Shrinky Dinks, and you could blow yourself up if you're smoking or near an open flame. Any takers? [Thanks to Nelson for the tip.] – Mike Spinelli

Related:
Gas Saving Tips for Flummoxed Drivers [internal]

When, in the course of human events, a singular driving objective reaches its lunatic culmination in a product, a certain amount of respect must be paid to its creators. In the case of Peel Engineering Company, that driving force was fuel mileage — mileage the likes of which Prii and Insights the world over could only dream. So compete was this obsession that risking the lives and limbs of owners was a trade-off they seemed willing to make. The P50 was produced in 1962 and '63 followed by the bubble topped Trident in '64 which we've covered before. At just 53 inches long, 39 inches wide, and 132 lbs, the Peel 50 was the smallest three-wheeled "car" ever produced. It was tiny enough to park manually, as shown above, with the the front or rear handle. Frugal was what the designers called it, batshit crazy is what I say. Thankfully, Peel went under before many of these death hampers could be put into the hands of smooshable citizens.– Ben Wojdyla

Peel P50 [Rumcars]

P.S. I'm a little weirded out by some examples showing two wheels in front as opposed to one wheel in front. I can't chase down an explanation, and it seems the two wheels in front versions are far more prevalent, but I like this picture better, so there.

Related:
More Peel Action! 49ccs On Super 8! [internal]

When GM announced the mileage ratings and price of its 2007 Saturn Green Line earlier this week, and positioned it against its gas-only competitors (price-wise as well as mileage rating), we wondered if we should take a tally of said competitors' EPA ratings for 2006. We quickly lost interest in that project, but that's ok because Cellounge picked up the slack, even including hybrid vehicles. With rated mileage of 32 in the city and 27 on the highway, the Vue won't be far from the top of the list (mixed hybrid and non) — even coming close to the full-hybrid Escape — when it's released later this year. Next maybe someone will cross-reference this list with sales numbers. Oh, and your mileage may vary.

2006 Ford Escape Hybrid: 36 mpg city, 31 mpg hwy
2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid: 33 mpg city, 29 mpg hwy
2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: 33 mpg city, 28 mpg hwy
2006 Lexus RX 400h: 33 mpg city, 28 mpg hwy
2006 Chevrolet HHR: 23 mpg city, 30 mpg hwy
2006 Honda CR-V: 23 mpg city, 29 mpg hwy
2006 Subaru Outback: 23 mpg city, 28 mpg hwy
2006 Toyota RAV4: 22 mpg city, 29 mpg hwy
2006 Subaru Forester: 22 mpg city, 29 mpg hwy
2006 Honda Element: 22 mpg city, 26 mpg hwy

10 Most Fuel Efficient SUVs for 2006 [Cellounge via Motorpulse]

Related:
Saturn Vue Green Line Priced [internal]

Holy loophole shift. Government regulators' new fuel-efficency requirements for SUVs could force the size of such trucks upward, say some critics quoted by AutoWeek. The larger the vehicle, they say, the lower the mandated mileage standard, giving incentive to automakers that build larger SUVs. One example given is the Hummer H3, which at its current size would have to meet a four-mpg increase by 2011, but with an extra two inches of track width and four inches of wheelbase could decrease by 1 mpg and still meet the target. Do you ever get the feeling federal bureaucrats got their degrees from Opposite School?

Compliance Question [AutoWeek]

Related:
GM Admits Large-SUV Market Is Past Its Peak [internal]

Hey smart kids, stop fiddling with that meth-lab erector set, and start on a project that'll make you some real money. The foundation that paid out $10 million for a privately funded space flight announced it would pay $25 million to anyone who can build and sell 10,000 vehicles that get 250 mpg. Foundation officials say the market should determine the extent of the prize, thus the production requirement in the rules. The winner would also likely gain favor among investment-bank and venture capital firms, making the promise a win for office foozball table builders as well.

Auto Design Challenge: 250 MPG Equals $25 Million From the X Foundation [Edmunds]

Related:
Wood a Gas: Serbian Yugo Powered by Wood-Gas [internal]

Ray from DetroitWonk refers to a piece in The Detroit News that takes GM to task for playing a numbers game with its recently touted "19 models that get 30 mpg or higher" marketing message. Sure, the claim is factually correct, but is GM's implied dominance in the mileage game accurate? Look closer, bids DN writer Ann Job, and you'll find the number only reflects about 30% of GM's vast product line. Toyota and Honda, with their relatively narrower range of products, could claim 55% and 60% such mileage, respectively. Of course every marketer stretches the truth in its ads, but in GM's case, shell-game messaging comes off as blind desperation to reverse what execs feel is misperception of its brands among consumers. There has got to be a better way.

The GM MPG Advertising Numbers Game [DetroitWonk]

Related:
GM Plans to Tout 2007 Vue Hybrid s Lower Price [internal]

Ford's been taking a lot of heat lately, for all kinds of reasons. But one reason, cited by an environmental action group whose criticism of Ford comprises its charter, may not be completely on the level. The group, Jumpstart Ford, has been on the company's case of late for its poor performance in greenhouse gas emissions relative to its competitors and for ranking cold last in fleet fuel efficiency. But now, in a press statement released yesterday, Jumpstart calls out a few of Ford's European models as being extravagantly better on gas than their US counterparts. To wit:

Ford United Kingdom
Model MPG
Ford Focus: 49.6 urban/57.6 extra urban
Ford Fusion: 61.4 mpg combined
Ford Galaxy: 42.8 combined
Ford Ka: 32.1/51.4
Ford Mondeo: 34.5 urban/ 57.7 extra urban

Ford USA
Model MPG
Ford Focus: 26 City/34 hwy
Ford Fusion: 23 city/31 hwy
Ford Freestar: 18 city/24 hwy
Ford Escape Hybrid: 36 city/31 hwy
Ford Taurus: 20 city/27 hwy

The apples-to-footballs comparison starts with the organization failing to acknowledge that UK gallons are considerably larger than US gallons. Yes, it's true. In the UK, One US gallon equals 3.785 liters, while in the UK, an Imperial gallon totals 4.546 liters. That's a difference of (check our math, please) something like 18%. Add to that less-than-identical mileage tests. (As optimistic as the US's EPA ratings are, the Euro figures are, anecdotally, even more forgiving.)

In the case of the Fusion, the group's comparison is even more off base, as the two cars are entirely different. In the US, the Fusion is a midsize sedan based on the Mazda6; in Europe, it's an economy car (pictured) based on the far smaller Fiesta. Where the group may have a case is in available engine size. In Europe, exorbitant gas prices, compact geography and widely available public transport have spurred a much wider market for small, fuel efficient engines like the 1.4-liter Zetec offered in the European Focus. (Try to get across Montana in one of those suckers.) In the US, the smallest Ford's Duratec gets is 2.0 liters.

Sure, those numbers are shocking, but let's get a more relevant comparison. Oh wait, it's not about proper comparisons, it's about politics. Gotcha.

Related:
Ford Scraps Self-Conscious Everest Name for Supersized Expedition [internal]

The G-men have spoken, and the two-seat Honda Insight hybrid (manual) is the most fuel-efficient 2006-year vehicle sold in the US, rated at 60 mpg in the city, 66 mpg on the highway. The insight just edged out its nearest competitor, the Toyota Prius, which came in second, with 60 mpg in the city and 51 on the highway. Among US automakers, the Ford Escape hybrid topped the list (36/31). In the absence of any vehicle 8500 lbs or over, like the Hummer H1 and H2, the least fuel efficient were generally super-luxury models: like Ferraris, Aston Martins and Bentleys. Among SUVs tested, the Dodge Durango with the 4.7-liter V8 had the lowest ratings (12/15). These are, of course estimates based on lab testing, and, according to the report — issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy — EPA miles-per-gallon (MPG) estimates are downwardly adjusted by about 15% to "better reflect real-world driving conditions for an average US motorist." All together now: Your mileage may vary.

The most fuel-efficient vehicles for 2006 [MSN]

2006 Fuel Economy Guide [Department of Energy / EPA]

Related:
Fuel Economy Dot Gov: Bush Administration Proposes Slightly Higher Standards [internal]

Today, US Transportation Secretary, Norm Mineta nicely suggested automakers increase their average fuel economy for light trucks by a few miles per gallon between 2008 and 2011. The administration's plan calls for selective requirements, applying no tightning of standards on the largest of SUVs (like the Hummer H2) or cars, but requiring small trucks and minivans to bear the brunt of greater fuel efficiency — likely to be accomplished through new diesels and higher-mileage sixes — causing environmental groups to spit-take their Spirulina. Still, Mineta says the program will save 10 billion gallons of gasoline, or about a month's worth of consumption, at 320.5 million gallons per day (March 2005). Get ready for a fight over this one.

Gov't proposes new SUV fuel standards [BusinessWeek]

Related:
If the Kids are United: Oregon and Washington to Follow California Emissions Standards [internal]