Working Truck Fuel Economy: The Facts
Fact: Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for light trucks can be increased while setting realistic targets for working trucks. It is not necessary for every truck sold to meet the CAFE standard. CAFE standards are based on the average fuel economy of a manufacturer's entire fleet of trucks. So, while everyone will be better off with higher CAFE standards, some vehicles can be well below the standard, while others can be above the standard.
Fact: Fuel economy can be increased with the same or even better power, utility, and safety. The technology is available today to make all light trucks, including work trucks, significantly more efficient. Automakers are sitting on a large number of fuel-saving technologies that have the potential to increase the fuel economy of a full-size pickup from 20.3 mpg to 33.7 mpg over the next ten years, while maintaining the safety, performance, and utility on which buyers have come to rely.
Fact: Increasing fuel economy standards will significantly reduce the overall financial burden on consumers. Fuel-saving technologies can deliver cost-effective increases in fuel economy that will save consumers money. Increasing the fuel economy of a full-size pickup from 20.3 mpg to 33.7 mpg would save the owner more than $7,000 in fuel costs over the life of the vehicle at a gas price of $2.50 / gallon. The technology additions needed to achieve this would increase the purchase price of the new vehicle by only $2,200, which would be recovered through lower fuel costs in less than four years of driving.
