WHEELS

President Barack Obama’s admirable proposal requiring auto manufacturers’ fleets to average 35.5 miles a gallon by 2016 is more challenging than it sounds. Cars would have to average 39 mpg, while light trucks would have to return 30 mpg.

How tough is that?

Now, only four vehicles, all hybrids, meet the standards: Honda Civic Hybrid (42.5 mpg), Honda Insight (41 mpg), Toyota Prius (46 mpg) and the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner/Mazda Tribute triplets (32 mpg). That’s it.

What’s surprising is what doesn’t make the cut.

The diminutive Toyota Yaris is relatively thirsty, averaging 32 mpg. The Mini Cooper also comes in at 32 mpg. Even the Smart Fortwo, only slightly larger than a phone booth, ekes out 37 mpg.

Think diesel is better? The most fuel-efficient one sold in the United States, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, returns 35 mpg.

Surprisingly, most gas-electric hybrids don’t meet the standard. Neither does a single Lexus hybrid, nor the Nissan Altima Hybrid (34 mpg), Toyota Camry Hybrid (33 mpg) or Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid (30 mpg). The new Ford Fusion Hybrid just misses the mark at 38 mpg.

That raises some interesting questions.

If we need hybrid drivetrains to reach the goal, where are all of the batteries going to come from? When hybrid demand spiked last summer along with gas prices, hybrid production was stymied by a lack of batteries. One could imagine that easily happening again.

Ironically, the regulations appear as demand for small cars and hybrids has declined with gas prices. Area dealers report increased interest among buyers in SUVs and trucks as fuel prices have moderated.

Hybrids aside, you might wonder what will happen to SUVs and trucks. It’s likely some environmentalists are dancing on their desks, expecting those vehicles to disappear.

Don’t count on it.

EPA fuel-economy regulations apply only to those vehicles with a gross vehicle weight – vehicle weight plus cargo capacity – under 8,500 pounds. That explains why the Hummer H2 never carried an EPA rating. Most likely, big SUVs and pickups will be built so that their gross weight puts them above the threshold to avoid the regulations.

Virginian-Pilot