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Consumer advocates want the Obama administration to raise average fuel economy standards to 45 mpg by 2020, citing the availability of necessary technology and public concern about gasoline prices.


The administration has proposed raising fuel-efficiency requirements 40 percent - to 35.5 miles per gallon - by 2016 for cars and light trucks combined. It plans to adopt final rules in April.


"We want to make sure we don't just rest on the 2016 numbers and that we're prepared today, and get the industry to prepare, to move substantially beyond 2016," Jack Gillis, a Consumer Federation of America spokesman and author of The Car Book, told reporters on a conference call today.


The consumer group's statement is likely to be just an opening salvo in an extended debate over post-2016 standards.


The CFA, an association of 280 groups, also said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should be primarily responsible for setting efficiency standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which shares rule-setting authority with the EPA, has allowed the automobile industry to exert undue influence, the consumer advocates said.


The consumer group said only 4 percent of 2010 model year vehicles achieve at least 30 mpg.


The consumer advocate's statement was issued as the Friday, Nov. 27, deadline approaches for public comment on the administration's proposal.


Auto industry lobbyists declined to comment on the substance of the consumer association's proposal while urging the administration to start considering post-2016 standards next year.


"We hope that once this rule making is finalized, NHTSA and EPA will begin the process of setting standards for future years," said Charles Territo, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a lobbying group for 11 domestic and foreign automakers.


That view was echoed by the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, which represents 13 automakers.

Tags: Emissions, Fuel Economy, Legislation, CAFE Credits, CAFE Standard, Corporate Average Fuel Economy, EPA

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Consumer Group Wants CAFE Standard Raised to 45 MPG by 2020 was originally published by Green Car Advisor. Read the full story by clicking here.