By the way, for anyone interested in more info specifically about CAFE, there is a TON of information posted on NHTSA's website at:

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/cafe/index.htm

I would suggest starting by clicking on the CAFE Overview, then reading through to last Annual Update, which is from 2002. I found it very encouraging to see that they do indeed actively get fees from automakers that are not in compliance with CAFE. BMW and Mercedes are two of the worst offenders, so it seems, contributing tens of millions of dollars to good old Uncle Sam for their inability to meet the CAFE regulations.

The other thing that stunned me was under the Studies link where they show the observations and suggestions for how to improve upon CAFE. The full report is 165 pages, and I'll admit I haven't read it yet, but their little brief observations on the main Studies page seems to make perfect sense to me.

At this point, what I'd say would make the biggest difference is that since CAFE relies on EPA numbers is to have the EPA fix their stupid test to bring it more in line to the acceleration rates and true highway speeds that are present in America. By doing so, the EPA ratings of all cars would drop by a good 10% or so, thus covertly raising the CAFE minimums by 10%. Currently the requirement is 27.5 for passenger cars and it shows that for 2004 the total fleet average was 29.1. They're already doing very well in that category, so the effects wouldn't be too bad.

Where I suspect they'd be a lot worse is for trucks since they are generally heavier, and would be hurt more by increased accelleration rates plus they have a lot more total aero drag and would be hurt by higher highway speeds. I view that as a good thing in a world where we're trying to increase the CAFE minimums for a market of vehicle that is becoming increasingly popular in America. Still, I'd like to see us reach a point where CAFE eliminates entirely the different minimums for cars and light trucks. They all get used the same anyway, so there should be no difference in how they're treated.