A recent statement by the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) called for the federal government to rethink the 2030 Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards, which will require automakers to offer a fleetwide average of 54.5 MPGs. NADA claimed the cost of making vehicles with this technology would cause an approximate $3,000 increase in the price of new cars by that point.
However, a new study by the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) indicates that the fuel savings will be worth the potential cost increase, reports Autoblog. The NRDC revealed that the 54.5 MPG rating will save drivers approximately $4,400 over the life of the vehicle compared to current cars, or approximately $68 billion in total.
Even today, many drivers are seeing the benefits of high-MPG vehicles.
"Drivers today have twice the fuel-efficient car options than just three years ago. The technology - and fuel savings - are only going to improve thanks to even stronger efficiency standards," said Luke Tonachel, senior vehicles analyst at the NRDC. "As consumers look to trade in older cars over time, they will have the latest in fuel saving technology available to them, putting money back in their pockets."
Today's drivers don't have the technology to save that much at the pump, but careful attention to vehicle maintenance can help improve fuel economy. An oil change or car tune up can both have positive effects on the vehicle's performance and MPG rating.