Overclocker

Date posted: 12-06-2006

TOKYO — Japan will soon impose the world's highest fuel-economy rules, requiring automakers to make their vehicles 20-25 percent more fuel-efficient by 2016, according to media reports.

The regulations are being developed to help the overcrowded Asian country meet its pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 6 percent by 2012 from 1990 levels. The new rules may be introduced starting next spring.

The rules would expand the number of passenger-vehicle weight categories on which fuel economy rules are based from the current to the new list of 15-20. The government is also advocating the use of biofuels and hydrogen-fuel-cell power sources, which are considered to be critical steps in the reduction of carbon-based fuels.

The newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun said Japan's auto fleet is about 25 percent more fuel-efficient than the U.S. average.

What this means to you: Tighter fuel-efficiency rules are expected to become a worldwide trend, including in the U.S.

Source: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=118690

daydr3am

I wish the U.S. would force this rule upon automakers in this nation as well.

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

The U.S. (California and NY especially) have been trying to push for it, but because a big portion of the U.S. is still truck and SUV dependent. Such a national program won't happen anytime soon.

If anything, I see metropolitan cities giving incentives for gas-efficient and hybrid cars, higher taxes for gas-guzzling vehicles, and further promotion of carpooling, public trasportation, and use of scooters/motorcycles...

rominl

iTrader: (4)

good move to improve the environment imho. i wonder with this new rule, how it wuld affect the manufacturers

ff_

Doing so would reduce the $$$ sucked in by the government through the gasoline tax. Knowing that helps us to understand why big brother has done so little to encourage greater fuel economy.

Well, at the same time, is it really up to the government to legislate the types of vehicles that are produced and sold by American companies? We can force them to change with our wallets... stop buying inefficient vehicles, and they will stop making so many of them.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Japan already has strong policies to discourage people driving even midsize cars by U.S. standards let alone large ones. Japan is minuscule in size compared the U.S. and so people don't have to drive the long distances so many do in the U.S. Driving tiny vehicles long distances SUCKS.

But regardless, the real benefit of increasing fuel economy is reducing dependence on foreign oil. The green house gas reduction makes for good press but isn't the real motivation.

UberNoob

this proves that people dont need a gas guzzler to make up for their small *****

lol