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Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff who ministered with a charming, humble style, dies at 88; MS literacy gains offer blueprint for education reform, experts say; Low wages mean multiple jobs for MA higher-ed faculty, staff; Las Vegas 'trashion' show gives used textiles new purpose.

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Sen. Van Hollen warns of a "constitutional crisis" after his El Salvador trip. Defense Sec. Hegseth shared military information in a second Signal chat. Former President Clinton calls for unity while commemorating the Oklahoma City bombing.

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Money meant for schools in timber country is uncertain as Congress fails to reauthorize a rural program, farmers and others will see federal dollars for energy projects unlocked, and DOGE cuts threaten plant species needed for U.S. food security.

Survey: NC drivers want carmakers to keep improving fuel efficiency

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Monday, February 3, 2025   

Americans continue to say improved fuel economy is the most significant change they want from vehicle manufacturers when they offer new products.

A new survey from Consumer Reports finds North Carolina drivers are among those who support regulations to push automakers to deliver new vehicles that cost less to fuel and have fewer emissions.

Chris Harto, a senior policy analyst for transportation and energy at Consumer Reports, said new car buyers want the government to keep setting standards for fuel efficiency.

"They want automakers to continue to deliver more efficient vehicles," said Harto. "They don't trust automakers to do that on their own, and they support the government pushing automakers to make sure that they deliver more efficient vehicles with each new generation of vehicles."

Harto said two-thirds of all drivers say fuel efficiency is important. And 64% of those surveyed agreed the government should continue to increase fuel economy standards.

When asked what else they would like improved, car buyers mentioned the purchase price, maintenance costs, "infotainment" systems, and cargo space.

And while electric vehicles account for only a small percentage of overall car ownership, Harto said people are discovering that hybrids or full EV trucks can deliver significant savings over gas-powered cars down the road.

"The increase in price is only about $1,500, but they deliver thousands and thousands of dollars in fuel savings," said Harto. "It comes out to about $5 in fuel savings for every $1 in increased vehicle price, so it's a huge return on investment for consumers."

Harto said calls to slow the pace of converting cars to renewable energy are short-sighted, and could hurt the American automobile industry in the long term.

"Globally, consumers are choosing electric vehicles at greater and greater numbers every year," said Harto. "If the U.S. automakers were to stop investing in this new technology, it really could harm our competitiveness, and harm jobs for American workers."


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