Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton proposed a 55 mpg fleet average by 2030 in a speech yesterday. The proposal is part of Clinton’s energy and climate change plan that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% — compared to 1990 — by 2050. The plan is also intended to reduce oil imports by as much as two-thirds.
“This is the biggest challenge we’ve faced in a generation, a challenge to our economy, our security, our health, and our planet,” said Clinton.
To help offset some of the cost stricter standards, the proposal also includes a low-interest $20 billion bond program to help automakers retool factories to produce new alternative fuel vehicles. In addition, the plan also includes $2 billion for battery research for plug-in hybrids.
The current proposed CAFE standard calls for a 35 mpg average by 2020, a plan that has met resistance with domestic automakers but was accepted by import automakers just last week.
