 |
 |
The oil shocks of the 1970s led to the introduction of Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) standards in 1978. These regulations required auto manufacturers to meet certain efficiency levels in terms of miles per gallon of gasoline. As manufacturers initially came into compliance, foreign imported oil fell as a percentage of total consumption in the United States from 47 percent in 1977 to 27 percent in 1985. Unfortunately, fuel efficiency has subsequently declined as sales of less fuel efficient sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and other light trucks have increased, driving our oil import dependence up to the dangerous level of 60 percent.
Increasing the fuel economy of the U.S. automotive fleet has the potential to once again reduce reliance on imported oil. The Energy Bill would increase fleet-wide fuel economy to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, saving American families $700 to $1000 per year at the pump including $22 billion in net consumer savings in 2020 alone. By 2030, the combination of CAFE and renewable fuels (see Renewable Fuels & Oil Savings) would have the effect of reducing oil consumption by more than 4 million barrels per day, producing oil savings equivalent to twice the current imports from the Persian Gulf. The CAFÉ provisions alone would have the effect of taking approximately 61 million of today's average cars and trucks off the road.
|
