Automakers looking to offer alternative fuel economy bill

In an effort to avoid mandated fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks that willl be considered by the U.S. Senate in mid-June, some automakers are calling that they begin moving to higher fuel efficiency benchmarks themselves.
The idea is that automakers move independently to have cars reach up to 36 mpg and light trucks up to 30 mpg in fuel efficiency, thereby avoiding having mandatory standards placed on them by the government.
The Senate bill to be considered on June 11, would call for feetwide averages of 35 mpg by 2020, and further increases of four per cent until 2030.
Industry lobbyists called the proposed bill untenable. Environmentalists are looking to have the Senate toughen the bill and remove supposed loopholes.