The Biden administration announced on April, the raising requirements for fuel efficiency, reversing a rollback by the Trump administration.

New vehicles sold in the United States will have to travel an average of at least 49 miles per gallon in 2026 under the new federal rules. The requirements would have been at 32 mpg, if going by rules under the Trump administration.

Specifically, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, says, fuel efficiency requirements will increase by 8 percent annually for 2024 and 2025 years, and 10 percent annually, for model year, 2026.

The Trump administration had in March 2020, rolled back fuel efficiency requirements to 1.5 percent annual increase through 2026. The Obama administration, had required 5 percent annual increases.

However, NHTSA stated that, consumers could save $1,387 in fuel costs over the life of a vehicle, but the average cost of a new vehicle, would also increase by almost$1,087.

Edited by Ngozi Anna Akunne

Reuters and The Associated Press