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CAFE standards were written in such a way as to encourage large vehicle footprints to work around the requirements of the standards. Motorcycling youtuber fort

CAFE standards were written in such a way as to encourage large vehicle footprints to work around the requirements of the standards. Motorcycling youtuber fortnine offers a good view on some other aspects of the situation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpuX-5E7xoU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpuX-5E7xoU

lotsofpulp 2y ago
I don’t understand why cafe standards are brought up when all the evidence indicates people are, by and large, willingly spending extra money to sit higher up in larger vehicles, when there are plenty of smaller vehicles available for purchase. Cafe could not exist, and we would still be in the same situation. The root cause is too low fuel prices (meaning too low fuel taxes).
khaki54 2y ago
In other words, this problem was caused by a progressive regulation intended to help the environment that had the exact opposite effect intended. They set aggressive targets for MPG that were not able to be reached and still produce a car that people want to drive. Remember the tiny Ford Ranger or Chevy S10? If they were produced today, they would be expected to have a very high MPG, which would require an engine unsuitable for the task as a truck. The end result is that vehicles are forced to be unnecessarily large to get put in the class where low MPG engine can be installed.
- phkahler 2y ago
  Check out the Ford Maverick hybrid. Similar size to trucks 30 years ago with 38mpg. The 2025 gets 4000lbs towing capacity. You can park it in normal sized spots.
  - sneed_chucker 2y ago
    Strongly considered it. If only Fords were reliable.
  - toast0 2y ago
    Trucks 30 years ago had 6 foot beds, not 4.5 foot beds.
    - phkahler 2y ago
      And 2 person cabs, not 4.
  - oldranger 2y ago
    The old Ranger could tow 5000 lb, 9000 lb combined. I wouldn't want to tow 4000lb on Maverick (which I respect for what it is) for very long. That engine is a little high strung. https://tailoredtrucks.com/blog/2011-ford-ranger-towing-capacity/ https://tailoredtrucks.com/blog/2011-ford-ranger-towing-capa...
- throwup238 2y ago
  > In other words, this problem was caused by a progressive regulation intended to help the environment that had the exact opposite effect intended. It was caused by the legislature undermining progressive regulation. Congress was the one that required the EPA to establish different standards for “non-passenger automobiles” and allow SUVs to classify as light trucks. It’s the only thing that saved the American car companies from bankruptcy post oil embargo shakeup so now its too entrenched a policy to remove.

lotsofpulp 2y ago

I don’t understand why cafe standards are brought up when all the evidence indicates people are, by and large, willingly spending extra money to sit higher up in larger vehicles, when there are plenty of smaller vehicles available for purchase. Cafe could not exist, and we would still be in the same situation. The root cause is too low fuel prices (meaning too low fuel taxes).

khaki54 2y ago

In other words, this problem was caused by a progressive regulation intended to help the environment that had the exact opposite effect intended. They set aggressive targets for MPG that were not able to be reached and still produce a car that people want to drive. Remember the tiny Ford Ranger or Chevy S10? If they were produced today, they would be expected to have a very high MPG, which would require an engine unsuitable for the task as a truck. The end result is that vehicles are forced to be unnecessarily large to get put in the class where low MPG engine can be installed.

phkahler 2y ago
Check out the Ford Maverick hybrid. Similar size to trucks 30 years ago with 38mpg. The 2025 gets 4000lbs towing capacity. You can park it in normal sized spots.
- sneed_chucker 2y ago
  Strongly considered it. If only Fords were reliable.
- toast0 2y ago
  Trucks 30 years ago had 6 foot beds, not 4.5 foot beds.
  - phkahler 2y ago
    And 2 person cabs, not 4.
- oldranger 2y ago
  The old Ranger could tow 5000 lb, 9000 lb combined. I wouldn't want to tow 4000lb on Maverick (which I respect for what it is) for very long. That engine is a little high strung. https://tailoredtrucks.com/blog/2011-ford-ranger-towing-capacity/ https://tailoredtrucks.com/blog/2011-ford-ranger-towing-capa...
throwup238 2y ago
> In other words, this problem was caused by a progressive regulation intended to help the environment that had the exact opposite effect intended. It was caused by the legislature undermining progressive regulation. Congress was the one that required the EPA to establish different standards for “non-passenger automobiles” and allow SUVs to classify as light trucks. It’s the only thing that saved the American car companies from bankruptcy post oil embargo shakeup so now its too entrenched a policy to remove.