Fuel economy policies and their effects on automobile ownership, use, and fuel consumption. Final report

Technical Report · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976

OSTI ID:6764371

Major improvements in automotive fuel economy have been made and are expected to continue to be made in response to increased petroleum product prices and increased public attention to energy conservation. These technological gains are projected to result in annual automotive fuel consumption falling beneath its 1975 level until about 1990, in spite of the increases in population, automobile ownership, and vehicular travel which are anticipated during that period. Significant auto fuel efficiency improvements and fuel consumption reductions are likely even in the absence of any governmental control over vehicle prices, fuel efficiency, or operating costs. The analysis given explores the additional gains in fuel conservation, as well as the consequences on travel and auto ownership, which are expected to result from enactment of Federal policies designed to promote more fuel-efficient automobiles. Three families of policies are explored: manipulation of gasoline prices, imposition of fuel economy standards, and establishment of fuel economy-based excise taxes and rebates. In all, 21 policy alternatives reflecting different variations of these measures are examined, and the projected impacts on auto sales, fuel economies, prices, ownership, scrappage, travel, and fuel consumption are shown. This analysis indicates that significant additional savings in automotive fuel consumption can be realized through Federal policy action, but that there may also be undesirable side effects on mobility and auto ownership associated with some policies. The forecasts presented are based upon an analytic model of automobile demand and the motor vehicle manufacturing industry. This process involves making supporting assumptions about future population growth, economic conditions, safety and environmental regulations, and automotive technological capability.

• Research Organization: Faucett (Jack) Associates, Inc., Chevy Chase, Md. (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6764371
• Report Number(s): JACKFAU-76-137-8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
298000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Consumption & Utilization
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320203 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Transportation-- Land & Roadway
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330800 -- Emission Control-- Alternative Fuels
AUTOMOBILES
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
COST
ECONOMIC IMPACT
FORECASTING
FUEL ECONOMY
FUELS
GASOLINE
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
OWNERSHIP
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
REGULATIONS
SOCIAL IMPACT
STANDARDS
TAXES
VEHICLES