The US state of California has agreed to work to the same timetable as the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on new fuel efficiency standards for the next generation of cars and light-duty trucks.

The agreement will see the California Air Resources Board (CARB) release its proposals for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards for model years 2017-2025 in September, at the same time as the DOT and EPA. CARB had been planning to release its proposals in March.

The move could signal a continuance of the current National Clean Car Programme, which provides nationwide fuel efficiency standards for carmakers to work towards.

Under the previous Administration, California repeatedly requesting a waiver from the EPA to allow it to issue its own fuel economy standards. Since this was finally granted in 2009, the state has been working more closely with the governmental agencies and agreed last autumn to coordinate its standards with those issued by the DOT and EPA.

“[This] announcement is a big step forward,” says DOT Secretary Ray LaHood. “By working together with EPA and the CARB to develop standards for the next generation of clean cars, we can set a standard that works for automakers across the country.”

For further information:
www.dot.gov/
www.epa.gov/
www.arb.ca.gov/

Related stories:
US proposes fuel efficiency standards for trucks and buses (26-Oct 2010)
US to develop tougher fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks (4-Oct 2010)
US EPA grants California waiver on vehicle emissions (1-Jul 2009)