President Barack Obama, seeking a gas-sipping vehicle fleet of the future, will order the government to begin working on fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks in the 2017 model year and beyond, according to an Associated Press report.

The White House is expected to announce plans today to extend a national fuel-efficiency program for cars and trucks developed in the past year while also asking federal agencies, for the first time, to create standards for heavy trucks beginning with the 2014 model year.

As part of the plan, Obama also intends to push for the development of more electric-powered and other next-generation cars. Auto executives, truck manufacturers and environmental leaders are expected to be on hand for the announcement.

In April, the administration rolled out rules for 2012-2016 model year vehicles that aimed at reaching 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016, nearly 10 miles per gallon more than now.

Environmental groups have said the standards will help overcome years of lagging efforts to boost fuel efficiency. Automakers have embraced the decision because they want a single national standard after California and a dozen other states tried to create their own rules.