Car Review: 2009 Yukon Denali Hybrid
Carmakers unhappy with NHTSA eco-assessment of new CAFE regs

Carmakers unhappy with NHTSA eco-assessment of new CAFE regs

Nelson Ireson August 22nd, 2008 Nelson Ireson By Nelson Ireson Author August 22nd, 2008
  • Articles Contributed: 1707
  • Comments Posted: 0
  • Leaderboard Rank: N/A

December 31st, 1969 The difficulty facing the U.S. automotive industry with the recently-revised 31.6mpg by 2015 CAFE requirement is well-known, but no less pressing. The carmakers claim the costs to comply will be measured in the billions of dollars when they can least afford it, and now a draft NHTSA report on the environmental impact of the fuel economy improvement has stirred further animosity toward the agency. According to the draft report, the proposed fuel economy increases would result in a global reduction of atmospheric CO2 by 0.2ppm by 2030 and prevent the emission of over 400,000 tons of CO2 each year by 2035. Those conclusions, and others, have caused the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers to take issue with the assessment, calling it alternately 'illogical' and 'wholly inconsistent', reports The Detroit News. The Alliance believes the NHTSA's model is dramatically flawed, and seriously overestimates the impact the regulations could have on the global atmosphere. The report itself is the product of a court-ordered investigation into the issue of the environmental impact of fuel economy regulations. Now the NHTSA is refusing to comment, since the report is only a draft, but the Alliance is speaking freely. Their primary point of contention with the NHTSA finding that the heightened fuel economy standars will reduce CO2 emissions lies in the difference between theory and real-world market effects. By raising fuel economy standards, the automakers argue, the government is effectively raising car prices, which will cause consumers to hold onto older, more polluting vehicles, longer. That, in turn, will counter-act any savings from newer cars.
Carmakers unhappy with NHTSA eco-assessment of new CAFE regs

Carmakers unhappy with NHTSA eco-assessment of new CAFE regs

Enlarge Photo

The difficulty facing the U.S. automotive industry with the recently-revised 31.6mpg by 2015 CAFE requirement is well-known, but no less pressing. The carmakers claim the costs to comply will be measured in the billions of dollars when they can least afford it, and now a draft NHTSA report on the environmental impact of the fuel economy improvement has stirred further animosity toward the agency.

According to the draft report, the proposed fuel economy increases would result in a global reduction of atmospheric CO2 by 0.2ppm by 2030 and prevent the emission of over 400,000 tons of CO2 each year by 2035.

Those conclusions, and others, have caused the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers to take issue with the assessment, calling it alternately 'illogical' and 'wholly inconsistent', reports The Detroit News.

The Alliance believes the NHTSA's model is dramatically flawed, and seriously overestimates the impact the regulations could have on the global atmosphere.

The report itself is the product of a court-ordered investigation into the issue of the environmental impact of fuel economy regulations. Now the NHTSA is refusing to comment, since the report is only a draft, but the Alliance is speaking freely. Their primary point of contention with the NHTSA finding that the heightened fuel economy standars will reduce CO2 emissions lies in the difference between theory and real-world market effects.

By raising fuel economy standards, the automakers argue, the government is effectively raising car prices, which will cause consumers to hold onto older, more polluting vehicles, longer. That, in turn, will counter-act any savings from newer cars.

Tags: Industry, Odds and ends

Posted in: News


Comments (4 total)

Meet the top commenters on the Leaderboard

  1. By Renton #1, Posted: 8/22/2008

    Do not argue with the all knowing gov't. They know what is best.

    Won't somebody please think of the children?

  2. By JSH #2, Posted: 8/22/2008

    While the automakers can argue all they want, the fact remains that the 2015 CAFE targets are easily achievable. Remember that CAFE regulations are not the new numbers put on the sticker but instead the raw numbers from the 80's test procedure.

    The NHTSA has recently released CAFE numbers for 2008. Toyota's domestically produced cars fall only 2.8% short of reaching the 2015 goal of 35.7 mpg using no new technology. (Toyota's domestically built cars are the Avalon, Camry, Corolla, and Matrix)

    Honda is only 1.4% short with their domestically built cars again with conventional cars. (Honda makes the Civic and the Accord in the US)

    Bottom line, the regulation is easily to do and won't result in the generally public forced into tiny, unsafe cars. The industries argument holds no sway, especially when they use the same "sky is falling, it will cost $10,000 per vehicle" arguments every time they have been given a mandate. (Seat belts, airbags, original CAFE, crash testing, emission regs, etc)

  3. By Renton #3, Posted: 8/22/2008

    These regulations that you speak of that are so easily attainable also have a bad effect. With one stroke of the pen it caused a number of high performance vehicles that were in development to be scrapped.

    Why don't you go hang out on some hippie blog and leave this site to the cars guys.

    I am all for efficiency and prefer to have the market drive car design rather than legislation. I am so sick of new regulations... every time you blink another pops up.

    We need less gov't, not more

  4. By Turkle #4, Posted: 8/22/2008

    What I find blessedly ironic about government regulation is that last sentence of the article. I will hold onto my two current cars for quite a bit longer due to the current market. Too many technology changes are occurring and car manufacturers are being driven to create more efficient cars world wide. I don't want to buy a more efficient car that uses first model year technology to make the gains that are being dictated by Congress and the European Union. There is just too much of a chance that I will be stuck with a dud if that new technology craps out. I also don't want to be stuck with a $2-3K premium on that car simply because it is more efficient. Until the government (states most likely) start taxing you more on older, less efficient cars, I will hold onto the cars that I have.

Post a Comment

Post anonymously
Sign In |
will stay private
your 'posted by' name will link to the URL

More from MotorAuthority

More from High Gear Media