CAFE’s 40% Hike Doable With Few Hybrids

WASHINGTON – The U.S. auto industry should achieve a government-mandated 40% fuel-economy improvement by 2020 and could push efficiency ahead 50% in the next 30 years, an industry consultant claims.

What’s more, auto makers likely will meet the new corporate average fuel economy standard without relying too heavily on hybrid and diesel technology, focusing instead on wringing more efficiency from internal-combustion engines.

So says K.G. Duleep, vice ...