Support Stricter Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards (TLU Action 1.A.1)

Support more stringent, near-term Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for all passenger vehicles and light trucks up to 10,000 lbs. gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). CAFE is the sales-weighted average fuel economy, in miles per gallon, of a manufacturer's light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks. Current standards apply to vehicles manufactured for sale in the United States with a GVWR of 8,500 lbs. or less. The higher limit would allow for inclusion of large sport utility vehicles and pick up trucks in these standards. In addition, the state should support the adoption of CAFE standards for vehicles greater than 10,000 lbs. GVWR in the near term. New standards recently proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)would raise the required corporate average to 35 mpg by model year 2020, up from the current 27.5 mpg for light cars and 22.2 mpg for light trucks. Existing analyses indicate that higher fuel economy is achievable with currently available technology and that significant improvements could be made by model year 2015.