CAFE (Fuel Economy Standard) Calculator

The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard sets the minimum fuel efficiency automakers must achieve across their entire fleet — and falling short triggers significant federal penalties. Enter your model year, passenger cars produced and their average MPG, plus light trucks produced and their average MPG, into the CAFE Calculator to get your Combined Fleet CAFE. Results include the Required CAFE Standard for your model year, Compliance Status, and your Shortfall or Surplus in MPG — with optional banked CAFE credits factored in.

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Include banked credits from previous years

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Results

Combined Fleet CAFE

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Required CAFE Standard

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Compliance Status

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Shortfall/Surplus

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Total Fleet Size

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Passenger Car Mix

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard?

CAFE standards are regulations that require automobile manufacturers to meet specific fuel economy targets for their vehicle fleets. These standards are set by NHTSA and help improve overall fuel efficiency and reduce oil consumption.

How are CAFE standards different for passenger cars and light trucks?

CAFE standards are set separately for passenger cars and light trucks, with different fuel economy requirements for each category. Light trucks typically have lower required fuel economy standards than passenger cars due to their size and intended use.

What happens if a manufacturer doesn't meet CAFE standards?

Manufacturers who fail to meet CAFE standards must pay civil penalties or use CAFE credits. The penalty is currently $14 for each 0.1 mpg the fleet falls short, multiplied by the number of vehicles produced that model year.

Can manufacturers use credits to meet CAFE compliance?

Yes, manufacturers can earn credits when they exceed CAFE standards and can use these credits to offset shortfalls in other years. Credits can be banked for up to five years and can also be transferred between a manufacturer's car and truck fleets.

How do the reformed CAFE standards work for model years 2022-2031?

The reformed standards establish increasingly stringent fuel economy requirements through 2031. The standards are based on vehicle footprint and include flexibility mechanisms like credit trading and banking to help manufacturers comply.

What vehicles are included in CAFE calculations?

CAFE standards apply to passenger cars and light trucks (including SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans) with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less. Each category is calculated separately for compliance purposes.

How is the combined fleet fuel economy calculated?

The combined fleet CAFE is calculated using a harmonic mean, which weights each vehicle's fuel economy by its production volume. This method gives more weight to higher-volume, lower-efficiency vehicles in the calculation.