Larisa Manescu, Sierra Club, larisa.manescu@sierraclub.org
Mark Drajem, Natural Resources Defense Council, MDrajem@nrdc.org
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, the Department of Energy announced a proposal to update a two-decade-old calculation that determines the equivalent fuel economy of electric vehicles, calling the formula outdated and reducing it by more than 70 percent.
The proposed rule is being published in the Federal Register today.
The Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) petitioned the DOE in 2021 to update the calculation, which hasn’t been updated since 2000.
“This Department of Energy proposal is welcome news,” said Joshua Berman, Senior Attorney with the Sierra Club. “This updated calculation will keep automakers accountable to improving the fuel economy of their fleets while also encouraging them to build electric vehicles at the rate needed to meet the urgency of the dual climate and air pollution crises fueled by gas cars.”
"Fuel economy standards must improve the efficiency of the millions of gasoline-powered vehicles still to be sold even as we transition to electric vehicles. This rule is about making sure that happens," said Luke Tonachel, senior director for clean vehicles and buildings at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council).
The groups detailed why this is so important in their petition to DOE: “Excessively high imputed fuel economy values for EVs means that a relatively small number of EVs will mathematically guarantee compliance without meaningful improvements in the real-world average fuel economy of automakers' overall fleets.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
About NRDC
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.