Vehicle fuel economy [electronic resource] / Government Accountability Office.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

United States. Government Accountability Office.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Automobiles--Fuel systems.

Automobiles.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (84 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York : Novinka Books, 2008.

Language Note:

English

Contents:

Intro

VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY

CONTENTS

CORRESPONDENCE

ABBREVIATIONS

Chapter 1 RESULTS IN BRIEF*

Chapter 2 BACKGROUND

THE CAFE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE OIL CONSUMPTION BY CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS AND HAS BEEN RESTRUCTURED FOR LIGHT TRUCKS BUT NOT FOR CARS

NHTSA AND EPA IMPLEMENT A PRESCRIBED PROCESS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS

NHTSA RECENTLY INCREASED STANDARDS AND REFORMED THE LIGHT TRUCK CAFE PROGRAM TO HELP ADDRESS DECLINING FUEL ECONOMY

NHTSA HAS NOT CHANGED THE CAR CAFE STANDARD SINCE 1990 BUT HAS REQUESTED AUTHORITY TO REFORM THE PROGRAM

THE CAFE PROGRAM HAS SAVED BILLIONS OF BARRELS OF OIL, BUT CAR STANDARDS HAVE NOT CHANGED FOR DECADES

THE CAFE PROGRAM HAS SEVERAL STRENGTHS, INCLUDING SAVING OIL

COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER ISSUES, SUCH AS SAFETY OF CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS

AND SLOWING THE INCREASE IN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

Chapter 3 SEVERAL WEAKNESSES IN THE CAFE PROGRAM EXIST

EXPERTS SUGGEST THAT REFINEMENTS TO THE CAR CAFE PROGRAM COULD INCREASE FUEL SAVINGS AND ADDRESS SOME PROGRAM WEAKNESSES

NHTSA GENERALLY HAS THE CAPABILITIES TO REFORM CAFE STANDARDS AND ACT QUICKLY IN THE FUTURE, BUT SOME CAPABILITIES COULD BE IMPROVED

Chapter 4 SOME MARKET-BASED POLICY OPTIONS COULD COMPLEMENT THE CAFE PROGRAM

MARKET-BASED CONSUMER INCENTIVES FOR PURCHASING FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES EXIST, BUT THEY ARE NARROWLY TARGETED AND HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR FEDERAL SPENDING

Tax Credits Can Encourage Consumers to Purchase Vehicles with a Higher Fuel Economy, but Related Costs Must Be Considered in Designing Such a Policy

Taxes Can Discourage the Purchase of Vehicles with a Low Fuel Economy and Provide a Revenue Stream for Other Fuel-Saving Programs, but Can Face Consumer Resistance.

Other Tax Policies with Different Goals Might Affect Consumer Choice of Vehicles

TAXES ON GASOLINE, CARBON EMISSIONS, OR VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED COULD AFFECT A BROADER RANGE OF CONSUMER DECISIONS THAT RELATE TO FUEL CONSUMPTION

EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE MARKET DEMAND FOR BIOFUELS HAVE BEEN INITIATED, BUT SEVERAL BARRIERS IMPEDE PROGRESS

A CARBON CAP-AND-TRADE PROGRAM WOULD COMBINE REGULATORY AND MARKET-BASED ELEMENTS, BUT INCLUDING CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS COULD BE COMPLICATED

Chapter 5 CONCLUSIONS

Chapter 6 MATTERS FOR CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION

Appendix I SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

Appendix II SELECTED MANUFACTURERS' CAFE PERFORMANCE, SELECTED YEARS FROM 1990 THROUGH 2005

REFERENCES

INDEX

Blank Page.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher.

OCLC:

923664972