DOT Sets Plan to Increase Fuel Economy of Light Trucks, SUVs

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epartment of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta outlined a plan Tuesday that would boost the corporate average fuel economy of light truck and sport utility vehicle fleets, news services reported.

“This is a plan that will save gas and result in less pain at the pump for motorists,'' Mineta said.

Mineta said the plan would implement new standards in time for 2011 models, helping consumers combat record fuel prices, Bloomberg reported.

Under the proposal, automakers could opt to meet six separate standards based on truck size for 2008 through 2010 models or stay with a single fleet-wide target, which for 2006 models is 21.6 mpg, Mineta said at a news conference in Atlanta, Bloomberg reported.

Automakers will be required to meet the six separate standards starting with 2011 models, he said.

Minivans, which for 2006 models must meet a standard of 21.6 mpg, will have a new requirement of 23.3 miles per gallon, Mineta said.

The proposal is the first overhaul in 30 years of the CAFE standards for light trucks. The change comes as the average U.S. gasoline price hit of $2.612 and diesel hit $2.588, both new records, on Monday, the Energy Department reported.

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