As the Obama administration raises the bar for US fuel efficiency standards with the blessing of auto manufacturers, critics say the ambitious goals will not be easy to implement in practice. Refiners are warning that tighter standards could raise the price of fuel at the pump, while auto dealers say that making cars run further on a gallon of gasoline could also make them too expensive for the average consumer. Fuel economy standards are required under federal law, but the Obama administration has taken steps to raise them at least four years earlier than required (OD May19'09).
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