History of C.A.F.E. Standards
The world of transportation is going green — and fast.
Café Cars
Here at Café Cars we might make a lot of small talk about glamorous transportation from the past, but trust us when we say that we recognize the current need for the auto industry’s manufacturing standards to improve in the present. We want to see transportation technology go green fast just like the rest of our eco friendly friends around the world, because we know in our hearts that it is the right thing car manufacturers must do to ensure everybody a bright green future.
That’s why when you read our blog you will find a wide variety of articles about hot cars, cool cars, and green car news all mixed together in one spot — because we know the technology is out there, and our global scientists and engineers are poised and waiting to make daily drivers and mass transit transportation eco friendly and less reliant on gas and oil immediately when the government gives the nudge and says America is finally ready.
If you follow green news, you may already know that there are changes coming for all new car manufacturers by or before 2016. President Barack Obama and his White House staff officials have signed into action legislative drives to encourage all auto manufacturers to produce vehicles that have reduced emissions and are able to get 35.5 MPG.
When the news first broke, there was a wave of naysayers who claimed the auto giants did not have the technology available to help them meet or exceed these standards. They pitched fits left and right claiming the American auto industry would have to fold if forced to meet these new ratings, and said that green car technology existing was a giant hoax — and urban legend — and based on an old “miracle carburetor” myth.
Well — we’re in the auto business, and despite our fondness for vintage cars and supercars that use carbon based fuel sources, we’re here to tell you that GREEN CAR TECHNOLOGY is not a joke. Getting 35.5 mile per gallon fuel ratios and having the ability to get to and fro without adding massive amounts of pollution to the air is not only an achievable goal, but the technology is already viable and here.
As such, with each new green tech improvement made to the automobiles we already know and love and each new future car design that is getting ready to come to market, we hope to share the news with our friends and readers here.
To that end, bookmark our site, share our links in your tweets, and share a thumbs up like for our story leads with your friends and family on facebook.
Together, we can all continue to share and celebrate our passion for 20th century vehicles while we confidently step forward into a brave new world with eco friendly cars and bright green exotics.
What does C.A.F.E. mean?
- CAFE is the short acronym for Corporate Average Fuel Economy.
What do C.A.F.E. standards mean?
- CAFE standards are government set regulations that dictate the number of miles per gallon that an automaker should get for the range of vehicles it sells.
What is the historical origin of C.A.F.E. cars legislation?
- NPR reports CAFE cars legislation changes first originated during the energy crisis of the 1970s, the standards represented the federal government’s attempt at reducing fuel consumption by boosting the fuel economy of cars and light trucks.
How have C.A.F.E. cars regulations changed over the past few decades?
- According to NPR‘s history file, “The standards ushered in an early surge in fuel economy for new cars and trucks. But CAFE requirements haven’t changed much in more than a decade — and neither has the gas mileage of the vehicles that Americans drive.” However, in 2009, United States President Barack Obama signed into law new directives that new car manufacturers should seek to meet or exceed new regulations by or before the year 2016. The new bar for production standards says all vehicles (including cars, SUVs, cross over vehicles, and light trucks) should have reduced emissions and meet 35.5 MPG or better fuel economy.
