[jcp123]

Originally Posted by JSH

If you truly believe that the government stifles progress in fuel economy explain the chart below of US fleet fuel economy.



CARS:
From 1978 to 1990 the US government increased CAFE from 18 mph to 27.5 mpg. From 1991 to 2010 they held CAFE steady at 27.5 mpg. From 2011 to 2020 CAFE steadily increased from 27.5 to 40.9 mpg

TRUCKS:
CAFE went from 17.5 mpg in 1982 to 20.5 in in 1989. In 1990 CAFE requirements actually dropped to 20 then climbed back to 20.7 in 1996. From 1996 to 2004 it held steady at 20.7 mpg. For 2005 to 2020 truck fuel economy climbed steadily to 31 mpg.

When the government requires manufacturers to increase fuel economy they do. That is the only time we increase fuel economy.

It’s undeniable that the regulations work, overall, to increase fuel economy.

However, I feel like current cafe regs work to stifle options which me be more fuel-efficient replacements for some vehicles. Why don’t we have truly small pickups? Their footprints are too small for their inherent drag and mission to be on the market. Instead we have Rangers and Colorados which are basically the size of 90s half tons, or lifestyle vehicles like the Santa Cruz. Or there’s the Ridgeline which I think is the best general-purpose pickup on the market. And consumers don’t want small vehicles either - they’ll even swallow Subaru’s stupid marketing and accept a lifted, AWD hatch (Crosstrek) or wagon (Outback/Legacy, Forester) as an SUV, because actual hatchbacks and wagons are apparently lame and they won’t have to get red cheeks when their neighbors or co-workers see what they drive.