Gas mileage requirements

Technology has surpassed the benefit of measuring gas mileage.  Now that we know crude oil is a renewable resource, reducing consumption with known huge reserves is pointless. Supply and demand will dictate mileage standards by users instead of arbitrary government requirements.

The pollution related aspects of gas mileage are institutionalized  in engine design. Changes would require substantial infrastructure investment. Pollution control  features are not just a design concern, but it also impacts maintenance and repair.

The computer controlled ignition system optimizes fuel usage. As a result the gas molecule is efficiently reduced  to its basic elemental parts. The most prominent compounds are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water vapor, and nitric oxide. The pollution control devices with the computer assisted air and fuel mixture does a good job of filtering and containing the emission of deleterious compounds like ozone and nitrogen dioxide.

Government regulations are never economical. The government cost of printing and distributing the regulations cost several million a year. The government employed regulators will easily exceed one billion a year. The regulated industry, in this instance, automobile manufacturers, refineries, and repair shops expend manpower in documenting compliance with the regulations. This cost is nearly incalculable. Leaving aside the auto manufacturers and refineries the repair shops across the country must be able to document their compliance. If these repair shops do only 2 hours each a month in compliance the cost substantial. I believe one trillion dollars would not be an over estimate for the entire private sector.

Roughly four million new vehicles are produced each year for use in the United States.  That represents about $300 per new vehicle in tax money spent by the government for regulatory compliance. The private sector cost is probably equivalent. For the private sector repair industry it represents over $3,000 per vehicle.

Retaining unnecessary regulations is not good for the economy.