The Obama administration has raised the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) goal to 54.5 mpg by 2025, quite a leap from 35.5 mpg, which is the goal they hope to hit in four years at the end of the Obama’s possible second term. The new standards were developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency and they take into account all cars and light trucks produced by a manufacturer in a given year. In an effort to get automakers to cooperate, credits and incentives are being offered for certain technologies, such as electric, hybrid, fuel cell, and natural gas.

The government hopes to reduce nationwide oil consumption by more than 2 billion barrels a day and in the process save American households more than $8,000 over their vehicle’s life span. So far, thirteen major auto manufacturers are on board with the new standards, with the Toyota Prius and the Nissan Leaf setting new standards for fuel efficiency.

Of course, with Obama out of office either this year or in 2016, a lot could change by 2025. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the US government remains steadfast and focused in its effort to curb the use of fossil fuels.

via The Verge