The National Research Council released a report last Thursday that fuel consumption by passenger cars, SUV’s, mini-vans and light trucks can be reduced without sacrificing safety or performance of the vehicle. But the technology comes at a price – anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars per vehicle.

The report which tackled 3-types of automotive engines found: The full combination of improved technologies could reduce fuel consumption by 29% in medium and large cars and pick-up trucks with conventional engines at an added cost to consumers of about $2,200. Smaller reductions can be achieved for smaller amounts.

The key to whether consumers will spend more money on fuel-efficient cars is the price of gasoline, according to Gloria Bergquist, vice president of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. When gasoline was priced at $4 per gallon a few years ago, consumers were lining up for fuel-efficient cars, but as the price declined, consumer interest.

Jim Kliesch, a senior engineer with the Union of Concerned Scientists said that “The Environmental Protection Agency has a “tear down” study under way that look part-by-part at the components in vehicles, how much they cost to produce and how much it would cost to reduce fuel consumption. The results should provide a more accurate idea of the cost of adding fuel-saving technologies to new cars and light trucks.”

The Department of Transportation rules requires new cars to achieve a fleet-wide average of 34.1 mpg by 2016.