Passenger Automobile Fuel Economy Standards for 1981 -1984

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) was enacted into law in December 1975 and is an important part of our national energy program. A section of the EPCA is concerned with “Improving Automotive Efficiency” and delegates various rulemaking responsibilities to the Department of Transportation relating to both passenger automobiles and nonpassenger automobiles. The scope of this paper is limited to a discussion of passenger automobile fuel economy standards for model years 1981 through 1984. A review of the background and rationale for the rulemaking is included.