Mineta, who served under Presidents Bush and Clinton, presented data suggesting that advances in conventional petrol and diesel engines would provide the most economical and efficient path to achieving the 2025 CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards set out by President Obama.

The White Paper added that despite recent policies favouring electric vehicles by offering incentives for developers and consumers, electromobility hadn’t gained widespread acceptance from consumers or shown that its popularity was likely to grow significantly in the United States.

‘There is a wide consensus that energy independence and greenhouse gas emissions are among the most critical issues facing our country,’ said Secretary Mineta. 

 ‘Now that the government has set aggressive performance targets, it is critical that the Administration and regulators allow markets the freedom to innovate and choose the best technology to reach those targets. In this era of severe budget restraints, lawmakers should address the inequities in consumer incentives by eliminating language that favours one technology over another.’

The White Paper is published by the U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars, a national coalition aimed at promoting the benefits of “clean” diesel technology and creating an equal market for vehicles fitted with these engines.