Light Truck Gas Mileage Proposal A Small Step Forward - Far From Enough

(12 December 2002 — Washington, D.C.)  Environmental Defense today noted the significance of a reported new federal proposal to raise fuel economy for light trucks, but said the package falls far short of what is needed to reverse 15 years of steady increases in greenhouse gas pollution from the U.S. auto fleet or to stem the nation’s continued reliance on oil.

“After years of neglect, policymakers are long overdue to address oil demand and global warming emissions from autos.  Automakers have the technology to do much more than the administration’s proposal asks, and much stronger action is urgently needed.” said Kevin Mills, director of Environmental Defense’s Pollution Prevention Alliance.

The proposed rule, drafted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, calls for an increase of 1.5 miles per gallon between 2005 and 2007 in federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for light trucks, including most minivans, pickups, and SUVs. 

“Although this proposal is too weak, it is significant in several ways,” said John DeCicco, a senior fellow and automotive specialist at Environmental Defense.  “First, its timetable recognizes that beneficial design changes are available to improve efficiency without delay.  Also, by targeting light trucks, it focuses on the most important part of the fuel consumption problem.  Finally, the proposal validates the CAFE standard as a valuable tool, in spite of U.S. automakers’ misleading campaigns against it, and codifies the need for regulation instead of vague, voluntary promises that some firms have proffered in its stead.”

“While the new CAFE proposal will yield slightly better gas mileage in SUVs and other light trucks,” said Mills, “the marginal utility of this proposal will be undermined if the administration extends CAFE credits for flexible-fuel vehicles.  These credits allow automakers to offset their fuel economy standards by selling vehicles capable of using alternative fuels even when such fuels have very limited availability.  Environmental Defense has recommended allowing these counter-productive credits to sunset, as they will unless the administration extends them.” 

“It is a sad reflection on the state of U.S. energy policy that this small step is in fact the most meaningful step the country has taken on oil dependence and its associated impacts in over a generation,” said DeCicco.  “American consumers deserve much better protection from swings in fuel price and the risks of global warming.  We urge the administration to substantially strengthen the rule before finalizing it next spring.”