Hotlink: Latest on the CAFE debate

Fuel economy & CAFE standards

AMERICAN MOTORISTS CARE about many features of their cars and light trucks -- including safety, usefulness, cost and fuel economy. They know that vehicles with higher mileage are smaller and lighter, saving on fuel costs, but offering less utility and safety protection. And they make their own choices about the vehicles they want to drive.

But the Federal government tries to force sales of small high-mileage cars and trucks by setting tough "CAFE standards" for vehicles sold, regardless of consumer demand. Anti-vehicle pressure groups try to push CAFE standards up even higher, especially for light trucks, which could mean new limits on consumer choice.

Check here for the information you need on auto fuel economy:

• basic background on the CAFE program, including CVC's "issue brief" and a 25-year chronology of events;

• CAFE laws, bills and rules -- the latest from Congress and DOT, including news on CAFE legislation in 2001, and a recap of the freeze debates of 1999 and 2000;

• consumer guides -- mileage ratings for new-model cars and trucks;

• special information on light trucks;

• safety effects of vehicle size and weight, and downsizing;

• why fuel economy is not a clean-air issue;

• expert reports on fuel economy -- including the blue-ribbon report from the National Academy of Sciences;

• technology -- improvements in fuel economy over the past 25 years, and what's in store for the future.

And for related info, visit our sections on highway safety and light trucks.

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This page last updated: 5/02/01