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Cynthetiq · 05-11-2006, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

The sad thing is we do have better efficiency. We have just plowed that efficiency into bigger vehicles.

It isn't just cars that are doing this. Another example is house efficiency. We can make housing heating and cooling efficient. Windows have become vastly more efficient than they have been historically. But what do we do instead of realizing this efficiency? We make the windows bigger so they end up having the same efficiency as 20 years ago, just bigger.

We also have made our house much, much larger and therefore more expensive to heat and cool.

It is just back ass way of thinking. But of course, all of this bigger is better consumption reflects positively on our GDP (our measure of productivity) while we continue to pollute and consume limited resources...

actually the light truck CAFE standard which is where the SUV fits doesn't have increased efficiency in the same percentage as the cars. Light trucks have only had to increase in mileage 5MPG in the past 20 years.

Quote:

For what years and at what levels have the passenger car CAFE standards been set?
To meet the goal of doubling the 1974 passenger car fuel economy average by 1985 (to 27.5 mpg), Congress set fuel economy standards for some of the intervening years. Passenger car standards were established for MY 1978 (18 mpg); MY 1979 (19 mpg); MY 1980 (20 mpg); and for MY 1985 and thereafter (27.5 mpg). Congress left the level of 1981-84 standards to the Department to establish administratively. Subsequently, standards of 22, 24, 26, and 27 mpg were established. For the post-1985 period, Congress provided for the continued application of the 27.5 mpg standard for passenger cars, but gave the Department the authority to set higher or lower standards. From MY 1986 through 1989, the passenger car standards were lowered. Thereafter, in MY 1990, the passenger car standard was amended to 27.5 mpg, which it has remained at this level.

For what years and at what levels have the light truck CAFE standards been set?
Congress did not specify a target for the improvement of light truck fuel economy. Instead, it provided that light truck standards be set at the maximum feasible level for model year 1979 and each model year thereafter. Unlike for the passenger car fleet, there is no default standard established for light trucks. NHTSA must set the standard for each model future model year. Light truck fuel economy standards have been established by NHTSA for MY 1979 through MY 2007.

Light truck fuel economy requirements were first established for MY 1979 (17.2 mpg for 2-wheel drive models; 15.8 mpg for 4-wheel drive). Standards for MY 1979 light trucks were established for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 6,000 pounds or less. Standards for MY 1980 and beyond are for light trucks with a GVWR of 8,500 pounds or less. The light truck standard progressively increased from MY 1979 to 20.7 mpg and 19.1 mpg, respectively, by MY 1991. From MY 1982 through 1991, manufacturers were allowed to comply by either combining 2- and 4-wheel drive fleets or calculating their fuel economy separately. In MY 1992, the 2- and 4-wheel drive fleet distinction was eliminated, and fleets were required to meet a standard of 20.2 mpg. The standard progressively increased until 1996, when the Appropriations prohibition froze the requirement at 20.7 mpg. The freeze was lifted by Congress on December 18, 2001. On March 31, 2003, NHTSA issued new light truck standards, setting a standard of 21.0 mpg for MY 2005, 21.6 mpg for MY 2006, and 22.2 mpg for MY 2007.