The public has spoken -- we want fuel efficient vehicles. Voters have sent this message to Congress, which has in turn pressured U.S. automakers to reverse their opposition to raising federal fuel economy standards.

Auto companies have long lobbied against any changes in the nearly 15 year old CAFE standards for fleet-wide fuel economy, but public concerns over energy independence, global warming and rising gas prices has changed their tune. The Michigan Senators who've always had their back has offered a gradual rise in minimum fuel economy for cars and trucks over the next 15-20.

These new targets of 35 mpg could be reached today without compromising safety, despite Detroit's crying wolf about cost. If plug-in hybrids and their 100 mpg+ potential become real, then the auto industry could still produce a few gas guzzlers and stay well above the required average mpg for their fleet.

Source: NY Times