In the first major overhaul of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards since Congress mandated them for all vehicles in 1975, the Department of Transportation last week proposed fuel economy standards for pickup trucks, minivans and some sport utility vehicles that would require the auto industry to raise standards for most vehicles other than cars beginning in 2008. All automakers would have to comply fully by 2011.
Instead of an industry-wide CAFE standard for light trucks, fuel economy would be calculated for six different segments of these vehicles according to size. Each automaker would also be given an average fuel economy goal for its particular mix of vehicle sales. For the smallest category of trucks, the final fuel efficiency target would be 28.4 mpg; for the largest SUVs and pickups, it would be 21.3 mpg, according to [I]The Washington Post.[/I]
But the plan as proposed does not apply to cars and the largest SUVs, such as the Hummer H2, which drew immediate protests from environmentalists and consumer advocates.
Automakers are currently required to maintain an average of 27.5 miles per gallon for passenger cars and 21 mpg for light trucks, with the light truck CAFE due to rise to 22.2 mpg for the 2007 model year.
Claiming the new rules will save about 10 billion gallons of gasoline, Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said, This is a plan that will save gas and result in less pain at the pump for motorists without sacrificing safety.
NHTSA Administrator Dr. Jeffrey Runge added, Our proposal asks automakers for the first time to focus their technology on increasing fuel efficiency across their entire fleets, rather than only in their least economical models.
Domestic automakers, who have complained that the current system favors smaller manufacturers that don’t make large SUVs and pickups, expressed some reservations about the proposed changes, but are not expected to adamantly oppose the new rules, which are still open to comment and evaluation by the industry.
NADA said it is hopeful that the final action will be consistent with NADA’s position that fuel efficiency standards do not unduly restrict product availability, vehicle choice or consumer cost.
Tougher Roof-Strength Rules
NHTSA is also proposing new rules requiring automakers to develop stronger roofs to protect occupants when vehicles roll over, for the first time applying tougher standards to large sport-utility vehicles.
The proposal would subject all vehicles under 10,000 pounds to a roof strength test, and require the vehicle to withstand 2.5 times their weight, as opposed to current standards which require just 1.5 times. Moving the standard up to 2.5 would affect some vehicles, but it shouldnêt be too hard for car companies to make the adjustments, according to [I]The Wall Street Journal (WSJ)[/I].
The proposal aims to resolve years of wrangling about rollover accidents, an issue that has become emblematic of the public-policy fights between auto-safety advocates and car companies. In this case, the rule changes may well win Detroit’s backing and perhaps only grudging acceptance from safety advocates, said the [I]WSJ[/I]. For the industry, the projected cost is a modest $90 million a year, according to a government official, while the projected lives saved each year is also a modest 11 to 44, according to government research.
NHTSA plans to couple the roof standards with enhanced seat belts that tighten when the vehicle is about to roll over. Roll over accidents account for more than a third of occupant deaths.
Upsetting to consumer advocates is a provision that would pre-empt any state laws or court decisions that conflict with the rule.