I personally think 54.5 mpg isn't really achievable in the US unless people start driving different cars, or gasoline gets some siblings. I mean it seems like everything but compact cars comes with 200+ horsepower. And a lot of people are still driving SUVs and huge cars (like the Model S :wink. Even small hybrid cars like the Prius barely makes the requirements. And, no offense here, it is a small, under-powered car (by today's standards), and designed for efficiency. Either we start driving full sized sedans with 120hp 3 cylinders or some cars are going to have to get electric (probably Volt style hybrid, or full electric for big cars; Prius hybrids could be used for small cars) to make that number. But it will make cars more fuel efficient! And really that is the goal, not some stupid arbitrary number to reach.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/michelinemaynard/2012/08/28/new-fuel-economy-standards-arent-as-high-as-you-might-think/ 2 cycle vs 5 cycle testing
The date when this kicks in is *2025*. I think this will be done by producing more electric cars. Which is good. That is totally achievable by *2025*.
I don't know about that. Mine seems to do much better--and it's a daily driver. Also, the Prius is not that small. It's a mid-sized car. DATE__________ODO____INC_____AVG --- Trip to NE starts here 01/07/12____128603____481____56.6 (4.2) -- 13 F here 01/12/12____129042____438____52.7 (4.5) 01/15/12____129420____378____50.3 (4.7) 01/20/12____129094____481____56.2 (4.2) --- Trip to NE ends here 01/31/12____130503____600____69.8 (3.4) 02/23/12____131050____546____69.4 (3.4) 03/07/12____131679____629____72.2 (3.3) 03/23/12____132319____638____71.3 (3.3) 04/12/12____132987____668____74.0 (3.2) 05/02/12____133647____659____74.3 (3.2) 05/18/12____134272____624____73.4 (3.2) -- Flat tire here -- High temperatures start here 06/06/12____134907____634____74.1 (3.2) 06/22/12____135557____650____74.2 (3.2) 07/11/12____136210____652____74.3 (3.2) 08/02/12____136901____690____75.8 (3.1) --- Trip to NE starts here 08/03/12____137499____597____57.8 (4.1) 08/04/12____138145____645____61.7 (3.8) 08/11/12____138646____601____58.8 (4.0) 08/12/12____139286____539____59.5 (4.0) 08/22/12____139881____595____64.1 (3.7) --- Trip to NE ends here 09/07/12____140529____647____75.4 (3.1) I respectfully disagree. The Prius is very spacious inside (too bad about the gas engine, but it's still pretty good for a gas engine car). The 2001 Prius that Denise drives has all the power anyone ever needs and the 2004 that I drive has more power than I'll ever use. I really thought we had gotten rid of the muscle cars (and the muscle car mentality) around 1980 or so. I couldn't agree more. Political tricks like giving 5 mpg for "flex-fuel" cars don't accomplish anything except delay real improvements.