NHTSA Seeks Comments On CAF? Light Truck Standard For MY2004. standards from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Autoparts Report,  Jan 29, 2002  

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The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking for Model Year 2004 light truck Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAF?) standards.

Beginning in 1996, Congress had prohibited NHTSA from spending any funds to consider any changes to the level of 1996 CAF? standards but this prohibition was lifted in December 2001. NHTSA has therefore not had sufficient time to study whether a level other than the one that has been in place since 1996 should be proposed but, by law, must issue a final rule establishing a model year 2004 light truck CAF? standard by April 1, 2002.

Therefore, NHTSA is proposing a standard of 20.7 mpg, the same level that has been in effect since 1996. However, the agency is inviting comments on the maximum feasible level of average fuel economy and will consider all submissions, including those with data and analysis suggesting a level higher or lower than 20.7 mpg. The notice will have a 30-day comment period.

Sen. Kerry Said Standard Should Be Raised Sen. John Kerry, in what his office called a major energy policy address, said in a speech that he wants Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, or CAF?, raised "as far and as fast as we can." Kerry, D-Mass., is a senior member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. He is leading the panel's effort to write a fuel economy provision for the energy bill that Democratic leaders plan to bring to the full Senate for debate in the next few weeks. Presented as an alternative to Bush administration policy, the bill's fate is uncertain in the narrowly divided Congress.

Kerry declined to say precisely what new CAF? standards should be, but he did acknowledge that his wishes ought to be balanced by "the legitimate concerns of the domestic automobile industry and the limits on what is technically and economically feasible." Congress froze CAF? standards for six years at 27.5 mpg for cars and 20.7 mpg for light trucks, but the last of the freezes ended in December.

Kerry also favors tax credits to help consumers buy advanced technology vehicles, such as those with gasoline-electric hybrid powertrains, and he supports government-backed research into hydrogen fuel cells.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Ron DeMarines
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