| The Fuel Economy Program in the United States
In response to the crude oil price increases and supply
problems in the early 1970’s, the U.S. Congress established regulations designed to
encourage the production of more fuel-efficient motor vehicles in the United States.
The regulations set minimum levels of performance (CAFE
standards) for the new passenger car and new light-duty truck fleets and enforced the
collection of financial non-conformance penalties when a manufacturer exceeded the CAFE
standards. They legislated the use of CAFE credits, the submission of data, and the
labelling of all vehicles with fuel economy information. "Gas guzzler" taxes
were also applied on individual vehicle models with very poor fuel efficiency.
The Gas Mileage Guide first appeared in 1974 and has
been published annually, although the title has changed to the Fuel Economy Guide.
For more information on the U.S. Fuel Economy Program visit
the website at: www.fueleconomy.gov
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