9th Circuit court of appeals dumps new truck fuel economy rules

A few years ago, before the current battle over CAFE standards, the National High Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) implemented some incremental improvements for truck efficiency. The new rules for the first time set the standards based on vehicle weight, with light vehicles getting a higher standard than heavier ones. Some states and environmental groups thought the new standards didn't go nearly far enough and sued. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has now agreed and ordered NHTSA to quickly draft new rules that take into account the effect of CO₂ on the environment.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]