United States Department of Transportation
i
90122: Automobile and Light Truck Fuel Economy: Is CAFE Up to Standards?
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1999-08-09
[PDF-93.64 KB]
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Alternative Title:Automobile and Light Truck Fuel Economy: Is CAFE Up to Standards
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Abstract:One of the least controversial provisions of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (P.L. 94-163) established corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for new passenger cars. As oil prices rose, there was little expectation that manufacturers would have any difficulty complying with the standards. However, oil prices softened and the demand for small cars diminished. In response to petitions from manufacturers facing stiff civil penalties for noncompliance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) relaxed the standard for model years 1986-1989. The current standard is 27.5 mpg for passenger automobiles and 20.7 mpg for light trucks, a classification that also includes sports utility vehicles (SUVs). Amidst the renewed sense of urgency about growing U.S. dependence upon imported oil, proposals to boost CAFE received close attention in the early nineties. An attempt to raise CAFE proved too controversial in the 102nd Congress to enact. CAFE provisions in omnibus energy legislation proposed in the Senate (that were less aggressive than other proposals) would have extended discretion to the Department of Transportation (DOT) to set "maximum feasible" targets for each manufacturer to meet in model year (MY) 1996 and MY2002. The inclusion of CAFE provisions was cited as one of the reasons for failure of a cloture motion on the legislation in early November 1991. The subsequently enacted Energy Policy Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-486) did not include any CAFE provisions.
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