CAFE and Hybrids
It’s no secret that CAFE ( Corporate Average Fuel Economy ) is at the forefront of our politicians discussions lately. Whether you’re a fan of hybrids and alternative fuels or not, the fact is that the United States consumes too much oil, and our current pace is probably not sustainable long-term. Thus, something needs to be done - and where better to turn than to Washington?
Currently, the CAFE standards are 27.5 mpg for cars, and 22.2 mpg for SUV’s and light trucks. That’s pretty sad overall, and leaves a giant loophole. Any vehicle that can be classified as a light truck gets away with having a lower mileage standard. That means vehicles like the Dodge Magnum don’t have to get good mileage - the US government classifies it as a truck.
The proposed new CAFE standards are 35 MPG for all vehicles - cars, minivans, light trucks, SUV’s, you name it. That raises the standard across the board, while wiping out the truck loophole that exists today. If approved, the new standards will go into effect in the year 2020. This gives manufacturers 13 years to get on board and get everything figured out - plenty of time when you think about it. That’s at least two vehicle life cycles, which gives enough time to implement advanced fuel savings technology - such as hybrid powertrains.
Through a combination of hybrid powertrains, lighter materials ( aluminum where possible in lieu of steel ), and better aerodynamics, 35 MPG should be cake for cars. It will be trickier for the trucks - a lot trickier. Consider that today the average full-size pickup truck gets about 14-15 MPG combined EPA. That needs to increase to the 35 MPG neighborhood - that’s over double the current mileage.
Overall, hybrid technology will be the single most important factor in achieving the new CAFE standards, if they are approved. No other technology has the immensely powerful fuel economy impact that an electric motor and some batteries. As hybrid technology goes mainstream, we can all expect the “hybrid premium” to go down - making hybrids more affordable for everyone. And I think I speak for all of us when I say - that’s a beautiful thing.
Filed under: CAFE
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