Environmental Group Wants Better Gas Mileage in Future Cars, Trucks

 PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Members of a citizens' environmental organization on Thursday called for higher fuel efficiency standards for new cars produced in the future.
Representatives of Penn Environment appeared outside City Hall with a hybrid car as a backdrop, calling on the federal government to drastically improve gas mileage for vehicles produced by automakers in the next 15 years.

Alex Wall (above) is a representative for the group Environment America:

"We're here urging the administration to require that the average car and light truck achieve at least 60 miles per gallon by 2025."

Pennsylvania state senator Daylin Leach (Montgomery County, right), who pushed through legislation in Harrisburg adding hybrid cars to the state's fleet of vehicles seven years ago, says it's a realistic goal:

"The problem is going to be will. We can absolutely do this. I mean, already the standards are set to increase.  But by making it 60 miles a gallon, knowing that we already have the technology today to do this, we are saying that we have to take this seriously."

Reported by Mark Abrams, KYW Newsradio.

Photo by Mark Abrams