New CAFE Standards: 42 MPG Cars, 26 MPG Trucks by 2016

[camaro5]

After years of fighting fuel economy and emissions rules at both the federal and state levels,

the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is finally coming out in favor of the new regulatory framework that will be announced by President Obama tomorrow.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/18/a...or-of-new-fed/

[Rallysport]

Originally Posted by Master Chief

Is there some way we can vote against this catastrophe?

As far as CAFE goes, I remember waaaaay back in the 80's when it first came to pass, and as the later years of higher MPG were arriving, car manufacturers griped and complained to Congress and the standard was relaxed. I think these numbers may be brought down IF the bill passes...you know the old way of starting high...always room to negotiate. However, this disturbs me. Big gubment dictating OUR choices again.

[stretch98]

Carol Browner just announced on MSNBC: 35.5 mpg by 2016. One uniform standard nationwide and it includes much stricter emissions limits.

[Scott@Bjorn3D]

So get your SS Camaro's while you can.

[Hyperknight]

Sigh..more whining for the next 3 1/2 years

[Captain Awesome]

I was reading the story this morning and the number being tossed around is that this will add about $1300 to the cost of every new car.

I remember reading in the past that the guzzler tax is $1000 per car, so hopefully this means some smart auto maker will just ignore these draconian fuel economy standards and simply pay the "guzzler" tax and pass the $300 savings along to the consumers.

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by One Mean Chevy

If thats the case Clone and Mod the Volt to be classifed as a "Truck" say 80miles to the Gallon instead of 100 and GM is set.

You jest but it's a fine idea.

I my book a truck is not a "Truck" unless its BOF, the Cab and Bed are Separate.

Agreed. CAFE doesn't define it that way, though. That's good news for us; if unibody SUVs weren't considered trucks, GM's CAFE car fleet average would be way lower and the Camaro would not be possible. As well, full size trucks would not be possible. Also, if it weren't for cars like the Cobalt XFE and the Aveo, the Camaro would not be possible.

I think these numbers are over inflated.

CAFE numbers are very inflated, which is why we don't have to worry too much about them. I bet the Camaro V6 will be CAFE highway rated over 40mpg. I have only seen EPA consumer fuel economy numbers for it, not CAFE numbers.

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

I was reading the story this morning and the number being tossed around is that this will add about $1300 to the cost of every new car.

I remember reading in the past that the guzzler tax is $1000 per car, so hopefully this means some smart auto maker will just ignore these draconian fuel economy standards and simply pay the "guzzler" tax and pass the $300 savings along to the consumers.

The guzzler tax is separate from CAFE fines. CAFE fines are are $5.50 per tenth of a MPG per unit. So, if GM's domestic car fleet average is 3mpg too low, they would have to increase the price of every car by $165.

The fleet average, including high-mpg Impalas, Aveos, Cobalt XFEs, and V6 Camaros would have to be 24mpg too low for CAFE fines to add $1300 to the cost of the car. That's currently impossible since the current CAFE standard is 27.5mpg...all the cars in the fleet would have to average 3.5 mpg on the easy CAFE test (not the tougher EPA consumer mpg test).

If GM is currently meeting CAFE requirements but not exceeding, the requirements would have to jump to 51.5mpg before the CAFE fines would be $1300 per car.

Also, manufacturers get credit for exceeding CAFE which can be applied in years where they come in too low. So, if for 5 years they beat the CAFE requirements by 1mpg, they can then come in too low by 1mpg for 5 years (or 5mpg for one year).

[BigRigMike]

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

I was reading the story this morning and the number being tossed around is that this will add about $1300 to the cost of every new car.

I remember reading in the past that the guzzler tax is $1000 per car, so hopefully this means some smart auto maker will just ignore these draconian fuel economy standards and simply pay the "guzzler" tax and pass the $300 savings along to the consumers.

I just some quick math and if they can increase mileage at a cost of $1,300 then you would be able to save that money in fuel costs in under 50,000 miles.

50,000 miles /42 mpg = 1,190 gallons of fuel
50,000 miles /27.5 mpg= 1,818 gallons of fuel

1,818 - 1190 = 628 gallons saved

628 gallons * $2.30 (Current gas price) = $1,444 saved

Granted this is just basic math and doesn't take into account time value of money or the fact that fuel prices could drop down or go back up to $4. But if you assume that a vehicle lasts for 200,000 miles you would save $5,776 in fuel costs if gas stays at $2.30.

[Vash]

Who cares if you save fuel money when an old F250 grills you and your dead? Those cars are dangerous.

CAFE is just a political machine. it's based on the faulty science of "global warming" AKA Weather. Which is caused by the Sun, earth's orbit and rotation and other celestial mechanics. Not cars.

[Captain Awesome]

How about this (Follow my logic):

GM sells one Volt per year, which doesn't use any gasoline at all.

That means the car gets an average of infinite MPG.

Infinity divided by any other number is still infinity.

So no matter what all their other cars average MPG is, there is no way the rest of the fleet can bring down the infinite MPG of the one electric vehicle. Infinity plus X divided by Y is still infinity! Yippee!

Their corporate average fuel economy would be infinity!

[BigRigMike]

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

How about this (Follow my logic):

GM sells one Volt per year, which doesn't use any gasoline at all.

That means the car gets an average of infinite MPG.

Infinity divided by any other number is still infinity.

So no matter what all their other cars average MPG is, there is no way the rest of the fleet can bring down the infinite MPG of the one electric vehicle. Infinity plus X divided by Y is still infinity! Yippee!

Their corporate average fuel economy would be infinity!

Actually they would only need to sell one Volt ever because the CAFE would be infinity for one year which they then could use the credit from that one year for an infinite number of years. Or they could try to use the back credit for EV-1 that was out and didn't use fuel.

[Design1stCode2nd]

Just offer all cars with the option of 1 or 2 diesel engines and it shouldn't be an issue. Remember that most cars including the Camaro are bought with the smaller engine anywhere from 70%-95% depending on the model.

One nationwide standard is easier for automakers to meet even if it's higher.

[AZCamaroFan]

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

I was reading the story this morning and the number being tossed around is that this will add about $1300 to the cost of every new car.

I remember reading in the past that the guzzler tax is $1000 per car, so hopefully this means some smart auto maker will just ignore these draconian fuel economy standards and simply pay the "guzzler" tax and pass the $300 savings along to the consumers.

It's being reported it will add $1,600 to the cost of new vehicles. Combined with the savings in gas, they say we will break even! Which means it's not about fuel cost. It's about "Global Warming"; sorry they stopped using that. "Climate Change". Wait, hold on, they're trying to think of another term....