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From today's AutoBeat Daily:


As early as next spring the Japanese government will introduce new standards requiring automakers to boost the fuel economy of their passenger vehicles 20%-25% by fiscal 2015 compared to 2004 levels, reports today’s Nihon Keizai Shimbun.

The regulations, described as the world’s toughest, are being developed to help Japan meet its pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 6% by 2012 from 1990 levels, according to the report.

Japan imposed its first fuel economy standards in 1999 and added regulations requiring a 12% improvement for trucks and buses in March. Today Japan’s auto fleet is roughly 25% more fuel efficient than the U.S. average, according to the newspaper.

The new rules would expand the number of passenger vehicle weight categories upon which fuel economy rules are based from nine to 15-20. The government also is promoting biofuels and hydrogen fuel cell power sources— two other ways to reduce the use of carbon-based fuels.

Wouldn't it be nice if the US government were to follow suit? I can't help but think we should be the ones taking the lead on this, rather than dragging our feet. http://users.telenet.be/eforum/emoticons4u/mad/1018.gif

If the US had done this 10-15 years ago, Detroit might be in better shape today.

On one episode of The Twilight Zone, a guy tells another that "you get a really nice raise....then you need it just to survive". I think that explains some of the gas guzzlers - they were nice at $1.25 a gallon, but many act like they need it to survive.

Well, even if we weren't leading it, the US shouldn't be dead last, and be listening to complaints that they can't do any better.

With the Japanese government mandating much stricter fuel economy standards the Japanese automakers will have to step up their already excellent fuel economy. Their efforts in Japan will surely trickle to vehicles in the U.S. and the U.S. big 2.5 may be left even further in the dust.

Hi All:

___I see more B-Class sized Hybrids and a roll out of new PHEV’s and clean diesel’s in Japan’s future …

___Good Luck

___Wayne

LOL, in a few years, the Big Three will only be able to sell their vehicles in the US. China, Japan, EU will all have these rather high FE standards!

Pravus,
I have yet to read where Cuba has imposed emissions standards. So perhaps there's some market penetration there they can exploit.

I wish Canada got on the bandwagon as well. We just elected a conservative government a year ago and everything dealing with the environment got slashed. They have even pulled us out of the Kyoto Accord. They are in a minority situation so hopefully we will see a change by next year at this time.
My first message here - looks like a great site. I spend alot of time on Green Hybrid as well. I have a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid with about 95000 kilometers on it. Cheers!

I do find it ironic that a lot of cars from Europe can't get sold in here because they don't meet US emission standards. It mostly has to do with most of them being diesel. Hopefully they get that sorted out and we get some nice cars from Europe over here.

I wish Canada got on the bandwagon as well. We just elected a conservative government a year ago and everything dealing with the environment got slashed. They have even pulled us out of the Kyoto Accord. They are in a minority situation so hopefully we will see a change by next year at this time.
My first message here - looks like a great site. I spend alot of time on Green Hybrid as well. I have a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid with about 95000 kilometers on it. Cheers!


Welcome! Hopefully you have some mileage data to contribute to the mileage logs.

At least you've been part of the Kyoto Accord for some time. My hope is that the U.S. will sign the treaty if a Democratic president wins next year.