US regulators are finalizing sharply lower vehicle fuel economy standards through 2031, reversing the previous administration's push for more electric vehicles. The new rule sets a fleetwide average of 34.5 miles per gallon by 2031, down from 50.4 mpg under the earlier target. Officials say the change cuts about $930 from the average cost of a new vehicle. The Department of Transportation's own estimates show the tradeoff: roughly 100 billion extra gallons of fuel consumed through 2050, $185 billion in added fuel spending, and about 5 percent higher CO2 emissions. The move eases pressure on automakers to sell efficient cars and EVs, but it locks in higher emissions for decades. The final rule is expected Monday.
