Washington is expected to announce new rules today which will tighten fuel economy standards for light trucks and sports utility vehicles (SUVs).

President Bush said in January that the US was "addicted to oil" and needed to improve its use of it, with the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy intended to push through some of the new stringent rules

Though officials remain tight-lipped, proposals are likely to set standards for small light vehicles of 28.4mpg and bigger models 21.3mpg by 2011.

At present, trucks are required to meet 22.5mpg but this applies to a manufacturer's whole class of vehicles, which has seen many make small efficient trucks to offset their worst polluters.

Though this is set to change, these efficiencies are likely to go up as fuel now costs a dollar more than expected when drawn up last August.

Most notably, the largest trucks are officially classed as work vehicles so will be exempt, though some critics say that many are used for passenger transport rather than labour.

Indeed some critics say that any changes for 2008-11 standards are likely to be modest and will not hit the biggest polluters.

Foreign motor manufacturers, meanwhile, are also said to be angry at what they perceive as a low mileage standard compared to European ones that they must work to.

Pick up trucks and SUVs are immensely popular in the US and many industry experts say that the probable "modest" fuel standards are designed to help the struggling US motor industry more than the environment.


Ÿ Adfero Ltd