CAFE Standards: Gas-Sipping Etiquette for Cars
NPR.org, June 18, 2007 · CAFE standards — short for Corporate Average Fuel Economy — dictate the number of miles per gallon that an automaker should get for the range of vehicles it sells. Originating during the energy crisis of the 1970s, the standards represented the federal government's attempt at reducing fuel consumption by boosting the fuel economy of cars and light trucks.
The standards ushered in an early surge in fuel economy for new cars and trucks. But CAFE requirements haven't changed much in more than a decade — and neither has the gas mileage of the vehicles that Americans drive. Below, a primer on these gas-sipping rules of the road:
What are current CAFE standards?
The current standard for passenger automobiles is 27.5 mpg. The standard for light-trucks — a classification that also includes SUVs under 8,500 pounds — rose to 22.2 mpg for model-year 2007 and will get bumped up to 22.5 for 2008 models.
Why don't light trucks and SUVs have to meet the same fuel-economy standards as passenger cars?
Light trucks and SUVs are subject to different fuel-economy standards because, when the standards were first conceived, lawmakers wanted to give U.S. farmers a break during the oil embargo of the '70s. Those breaks remained in place long after the embargo disappeared.
The Bush administration has taken small steps to correct this. Rules that went into effect in April 2006 will boost fuel-economy standards for light trucks by an average of slightly less than 2 mpg over four years. The expected gas savings — an estimated 10.7 billion gallons of gas over the next two decades — is less than what Americans now use in a single month.
What's the fuel-economy standard for a Hummer?
Actually, there is no standard for a Hummer. That's because really big vehicles — those weighing more than 8,500 pounds — aren't covered by fuel-economy standards. When the standards were first developed in the '70s, lawmakers assumed that any vehicle that large would only have industrial uses. They didn't foresee that an American family might actually cruise around in a behemoth the size of a Hummer or a Ford Excursion, which get ghastly gas mileage. The Hummer is not officially tested for fuel efficiency, but reports suggest it gets a measly 11 mpg.
Have CAFE standards been successful in boosting fuel economy?
CAFE standards led to a dramatic surge in fuel economy in the first decade after they were introduced. But starting in the mid-'80s, improvements became sluggish. And from 1990 to 2005, the average fuel economy of new vehicles — both cars and trucks combined — actually declined slightly. The reason: American drivers have increasingly switched to driving SUVs and trucks (they account for half of all new vehicles sold), which guzzle more gas than passenger cars.
What's the argument for raising fuel-economy standards?
One argument for higher CAFE standards is that the standards have barely budged since the 1980s. Supporters say the program would be more effective if lawmakers raised fuel-economy requirements, given that new technologies make better gas mileage quite feasible. But critics say the whole program has failed; they want to do away with the standards altogether.
Lawmakers who want to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil argue that boosting fuel economy in transportation — which accounts for about 27 percent of U.S. energy consumption — would go a long way toward that goal. Environmentalists note that easing our addiction to gas would reduce air pollution and help fight global warming.
What kind of existing technology could make vehicles more fuel efficient?
Technology already exists to make vehicles get at least 10 more miles per gallon; supporters of raising fuel-economy standards say it could be incorporated into cars in a cost-effective manner.
One study found that, when gas costs more than $2.30 a gallon, technologies that raise fuel-efficiency to around 33 mpg across the fleet pay for themselves within three to four years.
According to Tom Cole of the Center for Automotive Research, even big cars could save a lot of fuel with improvements, such as six-speed automatic transmissions, cylinders that shut down when they are not needed, and improved aerodynamics and materials. For an extra $1,000, Cole says, a conventional, gas-powered car could go 25 percent farther on a single gallon of gas.
What are the arguments against higher CAFE standards?
Struggling U.S. automakers argue that raising fuel-economy standards could push them over the financial edge. They say that higher fuel-efficiency standards could add thousands of dollars to the manufacturing cost of each vehicle; these costs will be higher for U.S. automakers than for their foreign counterparts, whose fleets are already filled with lighter, more efficient trucks. Thus, the argument goes, higher fuel-economy standards would lead to financial losses and job cuts.
CAFE supporters counter that the world's demand for oil — especially in places such as China — is increasing, but its supply is inexorably dwindling. They say American automakers need to get on the fuel-efficient bandwagon if they are to remain competitive with their Japanese counterparts.
What about safety concerns?
Opponents of higher fuel-economy standards often cite safety concerns. They argue that, in order to meet tougher standards, carmakers would be forced to make smaller, lighter vehicles — and these are more likely to crumple in a crash.
CAFE proponents cite a 2001 study by the National Academy of Sciences that concluded the fuel economy of passenger cars and trucks could be boosted cost-efficiently and without compromising safety. They also note that SUVs are less maneuverable than passenger cars and have a history of being more prone to rollovers.
by Maria Godoy
The standards ushered in an early surge in fuel economy for new cars and trucks. But CAFE requirements haven't changed much in more than a decade — and neither has the gas mileage of the vehicles that Americans drive. Below, a primer on these gas-sipping rules of the road:
What are current CAFE standards?
The current standard for passenger automobiles is 27.5 mpg. The standard for light-trucks — a classification that also includes SUVs under 8,500 pounds — rose to 22.2 mpg for model-year 2007 and will get bumped up to 22.5 for 2008 models.
Why don't light trucks and SUVs have to meet the same fuel-economy standards as passenger cars?
Light trucks and SUVs are subject to different fuel-economy standards because, when the standards were first conceived, lawmakers wanted to give U.S. farmers a break during the oil embargo of the '70s. Those breaks remained in place long after the embargo disappeared.
The Bush administration has taken small steps to correct this. Rules that went into effect in April 2006 will boost fuel-economy standards for light trucks by an average of slightly less than 2 mpg over four years. The expected gas savings — an estimated 10.7 billion gallons of gas over the next two decades — is less than what Americans now use in a single month.
What's the fuel-economy standard for a Hummer?
Actually, there is no standard for a Hummer. That's because really big vehicles — those weighing more than 8,500 pounds — aren't covered by fuel-economy standards. When the standards were first developed in the '70s, lawmakers assumed that any vehicle that large would only have industrial uses. They didn't foresee that an American family might actually cruise around in a behemoth the size of a Hummer or a Ford Excursion, which get ghastly gas mileage. The Hummer is not officially tested for fuel efficiency, but reports suggest it gets a measly 11 mpg.
Have CAFE standards been successful in boosting fuel economy?
CAFE standards led to a dramatic surge in fuel economy in the first decade after they were introduced. But starting in the mid-'80s, improvements became sluggish. And from 1990 to 2005, the average fuel economy of new vehicles — both cars and trucks combined — actually declined slightly. The reason: American drivers have increasingly switched to driving SUVs and trucks (they account for half of all new vehicles sold), which guzzle more gas than passenger cars.
What's the argument for raising fuel-economy standards?
One argument for higher CAFE standards is that the standards have barely budged since the 1980s. Supporters say the program would be more effective if lawmakers raised fuel-economy requirements, given that new technologies make better gas mileage quite feasible. But critics say the whole program has failed; they want to do away with the standards altogether.
Lawmakers who want to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil argue that boosting fuel economy in transportation — which accounts for about 27 percent of U.S. energy consumption — would go a long way toward that goal. Environmentalists note that easing our addiction to gas would reduce air pollution and help fight global warming.
What kind of existing technology could make vehicles more fuel efficient?
Technology already exists to make vehicles get at least 10 more miles per gallon; supporters of raising fuel-economy standards say it could be incorporated into cars in a cost-effective manner.
One study found that, when gas costs more than $2.30 a gallon, technologies that raise fuel-efficiency to around 33 mpg across the fleet pay for themselves within three to four years.
According to Tom Cole of the Center for Automotive Research, even big cars could save a lot of fuel with improvements, such as six-speed automatic transmissions, cylinders that shut down when they are not needed, and improved aerodynamics and materials. For an extra $1,000, Cole says, a conventional, gas-powered car could go 25 percent farther on a single gallon of gas.
What are the arguments against higher CAFE standards?
Struggling U.S. automakers argue that raising fuel-economy standards could push them over the financial edge. They say that higher fuel-efficiency standards could add thousands of dollars to the manufacturing cost of each vehicle; these costs will be higher for U.S. automakers than for their foreign counterparts, whose fleets are already filled with lighter, more efficient trucks. Thus, the argument goes, higher fuel-economy standards would lead to financial losses and job cuts.
CAFE supporters counter that the world's demand for oil — especially in places such as China — is increasing, but its supply is inexorably dwindling. They say American automakers need to get on the fuel-efficient bandwagon if they are to remain competitive with their Japanese counterparts.
What about safety concerns?
Opponents of higher fuel-economy standards often cite safety concerns. They argue that, in order to meet tougher standards, carmakers would be forced to make smaller, lighter vehicles — and these are more likely to crumple in a crash.
CAFE proponents cite a 2001 study by the National Academy of Sciences that concluded the fuel economy of passenger cars and trucks could be boosted cost-efficiently and without compromising safety. They also note that SUVs are less maneuverable than passenger cars and have a history of being more prone to rollovers.
by Maria Godoy
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