Senate Votes Against Tougher CAF? Standards

Autoparts Report, March 20, 2002

The Senate defeated a bill to increase fuel efficiency standards for cars, sports utilities and light trucks by 50 percent over 13 years. Instead, senators backed a measure that would give the administration 15 months years to develop its own mileage rules.

The future standards would have to take into account 13 factors including vehicle safety, manufacturer competitiveness and effects on employment but leave the setting of new CAF? figures to the NHTSA, rather than the Senate.

Senators on both sides of the debate did agree with the National Academy of Sciences report that concluded that fuel economy improvements, including gains of as much as 42 percent on SUVs and minivans, are already achievable without sacrificing size or horsepower, using existing technology.

The main disagreement appears to be over the amount of lead time vehicle makers are given. The study said that vehicle makers would otherwise have to make smaller, lighter vehicles with reduced safety as was the case in the late 1970s and 80s.