Potential for improved automobile fuel economy between 1985 and 1995. Hearing before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Ninety-Sixth Congress, Second Session, April 30, 1980

Book · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6769492

The April 30 statements of 13 witnesses and their responses to questions from the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources address the contribution automobile fuel economy can make to the overall energy conservation effort. The feasibility of requiring a 40-mile-per-gallon standard for cars by 1995 will determine whether a new post-1985 standard is justified. The present economic problems of US automakers are attributed by the committee members to foreign competition which has already reached the proposed level of fuel economy. The importance of the automobile and related industries to the US economy justifies federal assistance to help raise the capital needed to improve US cars. The legislative package offers an accelerated depreciation allowance to domestic manufacturers who surpass the applicable standard by at least five miles per gallon. It is also desirable for the oil industry to assume some of the research responsibility for reaching the goal. Auto industry spokesmen blame price control policies which insulated the American public from world market prices for much of the uncertainty in forecasting consumer demands and suggest letting free market prices provide a flexible framework for fuel economy competition. (DCK)

• OSTI ID: 6769492
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
291000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Conservation
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320203* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Transportation-- Land & Roadway
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330000 -- Advanced Propulsion Systems
AUTOMOBILES
ENERGY CONSERVATION
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
FUEL ECONOMY
HEARINGS
LEGAL INCENTIVES
LEGISLATION
STANDARDS
VEHICLES