Alternative Fuels Data Center: Vehicle Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) Requirements by Year

Source:

CAFE Standards 1978-2010: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Summary of Fuel Economy Performance
CAFE Standards 2011-2016: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency CAFE 2012-2016 Final Rule
CAFE Standards 2017-2025: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency CAFE 2017-2025 Final Rule

Notes: CAFE standards represent regulatory targets for original equipment manufacturers and do not represent expected window sticker fuel economies, which adjust regulatory test results down. NHTSA notes that real-world fuel economy is generally 20%-30% lower than the estimated required CAFE level stated above. CAFE standards for light-duty trucks were not introduced until 1982. Passenger cars and light-duty trucks are defined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 49 part 523. Each of these definitions has two separate "footprint" classifications that are based on the vehicle's size and are used to determine CAFE requirements for a particular vehicle. For more information on NHTSA CAFÉ requirements, visit nhtsa.gov/laws-regulations/corporate-average-fuel-economy.

Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards were put in place after the 1974 and 1980 oil price shocks. Cheap oil throughout the 1980s and 1990s reduced the pressure for CAFE to be used as a tool to reduce petroleum use. The oil price shock of 2008 renewed interest in CAFE, leading to regular updates through 2031. NHTSA developed the CAFE model to set requirements based on technological feasibility, economic practicability, the effect of other government motor vehicle standards on fuel economy, and the need for energy conservation. It is important to note that the CAFÉ model must be used to determine the requirements for an Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (OEM) vehicle fleet. The CAFE requirements used for this chart are the estimated averages of CAFE levels (in miles per gallon) required under the Final Rule.

To view more details, notes, and acronyms, please download the Excel spreadsheet.

Source:

To view more details, notes, and acronyms, please download the Excel spreadsheet.

	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030	2031
Passenger Cars	18	19	20	22	24	26	27	27.5	26	26	26	26.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	27.5	30.4	33.3	34.2	34.9	36.2	37.8	39.1	40.5	42	43.7	43.7	43.7	43.7	49.2	53.4	59.4	60	61.2	62.5	63.7	65.1
Light-Duty Trucks					17.5	19	20	19.5	20	20.5	20.5	20.5	20	20.2	20.2	20.4	20.5	20.6	20.7	20.7	20.7	20.7	20.7	20.7	20.7	20.7	20.7	21	21.6	22.2	22.5	23.1	23.5	24.4	25.4	26	26.6	27.5	28.8	29.5	30.1	30.6	31.3	31.3	31.3	31.3	35.1	38.2	42.4	42.6	42.6	43.5	44.3	45.2