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On May 19, 2009, President Barack Obama announced a new plan to increase vehicle fuel-economy nationwide. The plan will require the corporate average fleet economy, or CAFE, standard to meet 39 mpg by 2016, four years earlier than previous proposals. The announcement marked the first time the White House has placed a limit on greenhouse gas pollution from passenger vehicles.
The standard is based on a California initiative that recently reached an agreement after months of arguments between legislators, and auto makers. David McCurdy, president of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, commented that "the president has succeeded in bringing three regulatory bodies, 15 states, a dozen automakers and many environmental groups to the table." Still, some argue that the standards are not strict enough.
For the most part, critics point to the use of the CAFE standard as a metric for the plan. The EPA has found that the dynamometer machine-based test does not simulate actual driving conditions and, as a reflection of this, downgrades the results. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration explained the situation as the following:
Three different sets of fuel economy values—NHTSA's CAFE values, EPA's unadjusted dynamometer values, and EPA's adjusted on-road values exist. NHTSA's CAFE values are used to determine manufacturers' compliance with the applicable average fuel economy standards and to develop its annual report, the Automotive Fuel Economy Program Annual Update. The EPA's unadjusted dynamometer values are calculated from the emissions generated during the testing using a carbon balance equation...EPA's adjusted on-road values are those values listed in the Fuel Economy Guide and on new vehicle labels, adjusted to account for the in-use shortfall of EPA dynamometer test values.
Evaluating vehicles by their CAFE values means that the announcement is not as significant as it first seems. Already, 29 car models and 36 truck models achieve the standard. That said, reaching the 39 mpg mark will be a challenge for many automakers who are currently struggling to maintain the 27.5 mpg standard.
Hopefully, this is the first of many initiatives that will help lead America to a more sustainable driving future.
Find out more about environmental politics and issues in Focus Earth: May 23, 2009: New Fuel Standards and Hurricane Forecast.
Read more about gas mileage:
How to Go Green: Cars
View & Vote: Rate These Green Cars
Are You Green Car Savvy?
Green Glossary: Hypermiling
Find Out How Efficient Your Car Really Is
Everyday Ways to Drive More Efficiently
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