CAFE Standards Not an Undue Burden on Domestic Manufacturers

National Academy of Sciences. 2002.

“Effectiveness and Impact of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards” was written at the request of Congress explores the various impacts of CAFE standards. The authors find that the policy “clearly contributed to increased fuel economy”, while “the R&D demands created by the standards did not unduly burden the domestic manufacturers”.

In the year 2000 alone, saving on oil (due in part to CAFE standards) were between $3 and $6 billion. They find that CAFE standards have also reduced emissions. However, the authors also find that CAFE standards have produced fatalities due to widespread use of smaller cars.