The final rules place the national average for all vehicles at more than 34 miles to the gallon, far above current levels

Updated by Staff

WASHINGTON —  The Obama administration today unveiled more stringent gas mileage standards for new cars and trucks which industry observers say will acclerate the next generation of hybrids, efficient engines and electric vehicles.

The heads of the Transportation Department and the Environmental Protection Agency signed the new regs which essentially require all passenger cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. to obtain an overall average of 34.1 miles per gallon by model year 2016. This is the first time a national average for all vehicles has been put in place. By the 2016 model year, cars will be expected to average about 39 mpg while trucks are expected to get an average of 30 mpg.

“These historic new standards set ambitious, but achievable, fuel economy requirements for the automotive industry that will also encourage new and emerging technologies,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. “We will be helping American motorists save money at the pump, while putting less pollution in the air.”

The new national fuel standards is likely to boost Colorado’s nascent alternative transporation sector, which includes several biomass-biofuel developers, as well as a handful of alternative vehicle and component manufacturers.

Different automakers will have different fuel economy goals they will  be required to meet based on the average size of the vehicles they sell.