Source: Safety Gains From Heavier Cars May Be Cited to Cut MPG Rules - Bloomberg . . . NHTSA Acting Administrator Heidi King said in January that the agency would issue a notice of proposed rulemaking on March 30. The Environmental Protection Agency plans to decide by April 1 whether its separate tailpipe emissions standards for cars and light trucks for model years 2022 through 2025 should be revised. . . . Weakening the standards could set the Trump administration on a collision course with California environmental officials, who have vowed to defend their own efficiency standards. Why Trump Would Want to Slow Tough Fuel Standards: QuickTake Q&A On Saturday, the Air Resources Board said it hadn’t received a formal proposal from NHTSA and so couldn’t comment specifically. The state remains convinced that California is helping U.S. manufacturers remain competitive by prodding them to invest in electric cars and other fuel-saving technologies, according to Stanley Young, an ARB spokesman. The U.S. government would be taking an “unwise” step if it rolls back its requirements now, he said. . . . Since this impacts the potential to replace our two plugin cars with something safer and more efficient, it deserves some discussion. The opportunity to comment looks to open in about 6-7 weeks. Originally I was planning to post it in "News" but it isn't a pure technology issue. Hopefully it may stay in an open forum instead of relocation to Fred's House of Politics. Bob Wilson
