Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Tightening the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standard for
cars and trucks would be one requirement since a 12-mile-per-gallon car
or truck emits four times as much carbon dioxide as a 50-mile-per-gallon
subcompact. The auto industry has always resisted attempts to tighten
CAFE and certain vehicles like SUVs and pick-up trucks are not subject to
CAFE standards.
The average fuel economy has declined since 1988, as the auto
industry moved away from fuel-efficient smaller vehicles and pushed more
profitable trucks and SUVs. In 1970 the average miles per gallon (mpg) for
autos was 13.5, by 1999 the mpg was 21.4, but annual fuel consumption
(afc) in billions of gallons increased from 92.3 to over 160. During this
time the mpg for vans, pickups and SUVs went from 10 to 17.1 but the afc
went from 12.3 to 52.8. The mpg for vans, pickups and SUVs was actually
slightly higher in 1993 at 17.4 before the larger SUVs appeared. (See Tables
2-3A and 2-3B)
Table 2-3a. Domestic Motor Fuel Consumption
————————————————————————————————
All Average Cars Vans Busses Trucks
Vehicles annual pickups (billion
% change SUVs gallons)
————————————————————————————————
1970 92.3 4.8 67.8 12.3 0.8 11.3
1975 109.0 2.5 74.3 19.1 1.1 14.6
1980 115.0 -5.9 70.2 23.8 1.0 20.0
1990 130.8 -0.8 69.8 35.6 0.9 24.5
1991 128.6 -1.7 64.5 38.2 0.9 25.0
1993 137.3 3.3 67.2 42.9 0.9 26.2
1995 143.8 2.1 68.1 46.6 1.0 29.0
1997 150.4 2.0 69.9 49.4 1.0 29.9
1999 160.7 3.4 73.2 52.8 1.1 33.4
2003 169.6 .5 74.8 56.3 1.0 37.6
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The Coalition for Vehicle Choice (CVC) is a lobbying group sponsored
by carmakers, which has pushed to rescind the CAFE standards. The CVC
has stated that CAFE causes 2,000 deaths and 20,000 injuries every year
by forcing people into smaller cars. The auto industry has questioned the
science behind global warming and claimed there are not enough facts to
allow a judgment.
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