EESI Comments on the Midterm Evaluation of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards

Download EESI's CAFE Standards Comments

On September 26, EESI submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on their midterm evaluation of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for light-duty vehicles. These standards seek to gradually improve the average fuel efficiency of cars and light trucks that are manufactured in the United States.

In its comments, EESI advocated for the consideration of high octane, low carbon fuels—such as mid-level ethanol blends—as a strategy to increase vehicle efficiency. These fuels reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the need for toxic aromatics, and allow for smaller, more efficient engines with a higher compression ratio. EESI also outlined the steps the administration could take to ensure the viability of these fuels.