Feds Call For 2%-7% Efficiency Improvements For 2017-2025
As the graph above [via NHTSA’s latest CAFE data, in PDF here] shows, passenger car fleet economy has actually leveled off after a brief spike in recent years. Possibly even more surprising is the fact that imports spent a portion of the last decade actually beating the imports in passenger car economy after a 20+ year slide in import CAFE performance [ more long-term fuel economy charts here]. These trends illustrate that the sides in the emerging “Battle of 62 MPG” may not as easy to characterize as you might think… as does a new hint from NHTSA about the shape of future CAFE increases. According to the Detroit News, NHTSA is signaling that
it is researching the impact of raising fuel efficiency in the 2 percent to 7 percent annual range.
The agency said it has “tentatively concluded” that 7 percent annual increases is the maximum that is technically feasible.
Before it sets a requirement, NHTSA must take into account a number of factors, including the costs of the regulation and safety impacts.
NHTSA and the Environmental Protection Agency said previously they are working together on 3 percent to 6 percent annual increases.
The high end of that range would result in the much-discussed 62 MPG by 2025 standard, an achievement the government insists would only cost as much as $3,500 per vehicle. The industry points to cost estimates closer to $10,000 per vehicle for that level of CAFE increase. The battle continues…
More by Edward Niedermeyer
Comments
Join the conversation
The biggest losers in this game could be Chrysler and Ford (time for the EcoBoost to become what its name implies), and the biggest winner could be Hyundai, whose large vehicles don't sell enough to hurt them. Maybe the much-lamented small pickup will make a comeback after all.
Does the MPG drop in imports after 1980 coincide with the average weight/engine size of imports going up? I'm wondering if this reflects the mix of Hondas, Toyotas, VWs and such changing from smaller cars to somewhat larger cars. Just curious, I don't have the data to validate.
I'd love it if there were increased standards for commercial vehicles. The amount of soot and stink that is spewed out of these trucks is really out of hand. It would be a much more impactful change than focusing on non-commercial vehicles.
Yes there is. Since 2007 emissions regs have been DPF forcing (deals with the "soot") and earlier this year EPA announced a CO2 reg (when you see CO2 read fuel economy) which i believe takes effect 2015 or 2016