Fed Considering Relaxing CAFE Standards Because Of Lower Fuel Prices?

America’s resurrected love affair with pickups and sport-utility vehicles could drive federal officials to relax upcoming fuel economy regulations of 54.5 miles per gallon for a fleet average by 2025.

Federal officials and industry experts on Tuesday discussed the 2022-2025 regulations with cautiously optimistic outlooks despite a host of factors, including lower gas prices and consumers not purchasing enough fuel-efficient models to outweigh the growing number of pickups and sport-utility vehicles.

The regulations, when announced by President Barack Obama in 2012, were based on consumer behaviors around the 2008-2010 model years that have changed as the economy has strengthened, gas prices have fallen and automakers have released more-efficient large vehicles.

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TheSteve - 3/20/2015 12:19:24 PM

+1 Boost

Sure. Go ahead and relax the standards. North American car manufacturers, where a river of cheap oil is flowing, will return to being lazy, and they'll shift to less fuel efficient vehicles. Meanwhile, in other countries who are paying much more for gas and are still very much interested in good fuel economy, will have car makers still delivering those economical vehicles and investing in R&D to get even better.

In a few years, when gas prices return to their previous highs and go even higher, the North American car makers will be caught with their pants down, selling only gas-guzzlers, and being a few years behind foreign automakers. Consumers will shift their purchases to much more efficient foreign cars. North American car makers turn to the feds for multi-billion dollar bailouts to stave off bankruptcy, and for government incentives to make consumers buy American.

Note: "Government Incentive = Borrowing money they don't have, handing it to the taxpayer on the condition that they buy an inferior domestic car, and then handing the bill to the taxpayer in the form of increased debt, and a bigger portion of your taxes go to pay the interest on that debt. All because domestic automakers would rather not be fuel efficient, and won't be unless the government forces them.

Vette71 - 3/20/2015 5:59:52 PM

+1 Boost

Had to chuckle at 009's choice of fuel consumption stickers. That is the exact mpg city and highway I get from a Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel. Hell of a lot nicer and more versatile vehicle than a 93 Camry. No CO2 either. There are solutions.
Feds (BO) will raise fuel tax before they ease standards.

CarCrazedinCali - 3/20/2015 6:09:19 PM

0 Boost

How dumb, stricter regulations force innovation imo, so let's not let up now, besides we all know how limited resources are, so let's not kid ourselves that we are in the clear all of a sudden

MDarringer - 3/21/2015 12:22:32 PM

+1 Boost

Stricter regulations also are responsible for cars being much more expensive after inflation adjustments.

CarCrazedinCali - 3/21/2015 2:47:57 PM

+1 Boost

so what, don't buy one if you can't afford it, there are busses for those who can't buy cars

MDarringer - 3/20/2015 9:42:47 PM

0 Boost

Do away with CAFE standards! Go free market and don't bitch.