New Analysis: Americans in All Fifty States Save Hard-Earned Money with Clean Car Standards

  (Washington D.C. – July 23, 2018) A new analysis by M.J. Bradley shows that the Trump administration’s impending attack on Clean Car Standards will cost American car owners hundreds of dollars each year, and will ultimately mean thousands of dollars in extra fuel costs for families in every state. 

With the anticipated roll back of the standards, the average American family will spend $200 more each year, and could spend as much as $500 more each year if gas prices continue to rise — with low-income and long-commuting Americans particularly hard hit.

“The Trump administration’s attack on our common sense Clean Car Standards means bigger bills at the gas pump for American families,” said EDF Senior Attorney Martha Roberts. “This rollback will also increase harmful pollution and undermine the jobs created by innovative American engineering and manufacturing. We need to accelerate our progress towards clean cars, not hit the brakes.” 

The new M.J. Bradley report was commissioned by EDF. It finds that with the current Clean Car Standards, owners of model year 2025 cars would see net savings in fuel costs of up to $5,000 over the cars’ lifetime – and trucks owners would see net fuel cost savings of up to $8,000 – compared to model year 2020 vehicles. Those savings would be lost if the Trump administration rolls back the Clean Car Standards.

For the vast majority of American families, the Clean Car Standards result in money saved at the gas pump as soon as they drive a car off the lot — and for all families, their savings continue as long as they own their vehicle.

In addition to saving families money at the gas pump, the Clean Car Standards give us cleaner air to breathe, help protect us from the growing threat of climate change, and drive the technological innovation that leads to jobs and economic growth. They have widespread support, including from many states and automobile workers. An American Lung Association poll found that more than two-thirds of Americans support the Clean Car Standards. Major automakers have disavowed a rollback of the existing standards.

In spite of these many broadly shared benefits for all Americans, the Trump Administration is poised to throw the standards into reverse, and attack state clean car programs as well, in the next few days.

You can read the full report here – including savings estimates for each state.