Motor Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Initiative

• How It Works/Status
• Canada/U.S. Motor Vehicle Fuel Efficiency
• Achievements and Outputs
• Related Links

A voluntary initiative with vehicle manufacturers aimed at promoting improvements in motor vehicle fuel efficiency, including introduction of fuel efficiency technologies in new vehicles.

How It Works/Status

The Motor Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Initiative is based on the earlier Motor Vehicle Fuel Consumption Program (MVFCP) initiated in the late 1970s which encourages motor vehicle manufacturers to meet voluntary annual company average fuel consumption (CAFC) targets for new automobiles sold in Canada. The Motor Vehicle Fuel Consumption Standards Act was passed by Parliament in 1981, but the Act was not proclaimed as the Canadian vehicle manufacturers offered to meet the requirements on a voluntary basis. The manufacturers have made good on their offer and have met the program objectives at a significantly reduced cost to both government and industry compared to a mandatory approach.

CAFC calculates a sale-weighted average fuel consumption for all new model year vehicles that are sold by each company. In 2001, the target goal for the passenger cars is 8.6 L/100 km and 11.4 L/100 km for light trucks.

In late 1995 and early 1996, NRCan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with domestic and international vehicle manufacturers that renews and expands the Motor Vehicle Fuel Consumption Program. The MOUs embrace a more comprehensive, balanced approach to motor vehicle fuel efficiency aimed at vehicle owners and operators, as well as vehicle technology.

The elements of the MOUs are being implemented through the Government Industry Motor Vehicle Energy Committee (GIMVEC) and its sub-committees, which are working in three areas: communicating and promoting vehicle efficiency, vehicle energy data and reporting and future vehicle technology.

Progress has been achieved in Canada in increasing the level of consumer awareness, in particular as it pertains to the purchase of new vehicles. The new EnerGuide label for Vehicles has been appearing on all new vehicles since January 1999. Improvements to the Fuel Consumption Guide and the submission of annual industry vehicle data were also made through this process.

Through the Transportation Climate Change Table [This link opens a new window], a number of measures to improve new and on-road vehicle fuel efficiency have been examined. In particular, this includes an analysis of the potential greenhouse gas improvements from the implementation of more stringent CAFC standards assuming both harmonization and non-harmonization with similar U.S. standards.

Back to top

Canada/U.S. Motor Vehicle Fuel Efficiency

NRCan also negotiated a MOU with the U.S. Department of Energy regarding motor vehicle energy efficiency issues of interest to both countries. This agreement provides a mechanism to explore and harmonize policies and measures in this area, and a broad range of issues has been discussed over the years.

The United States initiated the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) with the "Big Three" automobile manufacturers, to develop by the year 2004 a prototype vehicle that would achieve a threefold improvement in fuel efficiency while matching affordability, safety standards, performance and comfort of current passenger cars.

As a result of the PNGV activities in the United States and the demand for fuel-efficient vehicles in Europe and Japan, manufacturers have developed and in some instances introduced vehicles that are 40 to 60 percent more fuel-efficient than the average passenger car today. However, in most cases these vehicles are not scheduled for North American introduction in any significant quantities under current market conditions.

In January 2000, NRCan agreed to cost-share a joint research study with the U.S. Department of Energy to examine options and impacts of a North American new vehicle fuel efficiency target.

Back to top

Achievements and Outputs:

1997-1999

• NRCan and the U.S. Department of Energy initiated a study in 1998-1999 to assess the efficiency potential of direct-injection gasoline engines.
  [HTML Version]  [PDF Version]
• NRCan and vehicle manufacturers initiated a study on the impacts of traffic congestion on vehicle fuel consumption.
  [HTML Version]  [PDF Version]

1999-2000

• Monitoring of vehicle manufacturers' fuel-efficiency technology introductions continued through a series of meetings with individual vehicle manufacturers. A database of new concept and prototype vehicles has been developed and is being maintained to provide up-to-date information for analysis, policy development and briefings.
• An update and enhancement of NRCan's Vehicle Information System (VIS) was undertaken in preparation of the release of an analysis of new vehicle fuel efficiency and technology trends from 1988 to 1998.
  [HTML Version]  [PDF Version]

Back to top

Related Links

• Transport Canada [This link opens a new window]
• Environment Canada [This link opens a new window]
• Department of Energy (U.S.) [This link opens a new window]
• Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.) [This link opens a new window]

Back to top