|
|
 |
|
|
| ›
Home
›
Policies
›
North America
›
Canada
›
Fuel Efficiency Initiatives / CAFC Standard |
|
| › Fuel Efficiency Initiatives / CAFC Standard |
|
| Background |
Since the early 1980s, Canadian carmakers have agreed to meet voluntarily the minimum levels of fuel efficiency set down in the Company Average Fuel Consumption (CAFC) goal for new passenger cars. The CAFC goal is aligned with the mandatory U.S. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard.
|
|
 |
In 1982, the Parliament adopted the Motor Vehicle Fuel Consumption Standards Act (MVFCSA) to set a nation-wide standard for fuel efficiency. This Act was not proclaimed because the automotive industry offered to meet the requirements on a voluntary basis.
Given that transport accounts for one fourth of total greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, a Climate Change Plan from 2002 called for a 25% improvement in CAFC targets by 2010. CAFC targets have not changed for 20 years and the current fuel efficiency level is 5% lower than in 1988. Due to the voluntary nature there are no penalties for companies failing to meet the CAFC goals for any year. This is expected to change with the adoption of the new Canada's Clean Air Act.
|
| Impact on MAC |
Since Mobile Air Conditioning can increase a car's fuel consumption by up to 10%, fuel efficiency data will reflect the performance of cooling systems.
|
| Targets |
Some of the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Fuel Consumption Standards Act currently met by carmakers on a voluntary basis, are to:
- adapt to CAFC standards defined for specific classes of motor vehicles,
- submit data to public authorities to monitor progress,
- add a fuel consumption label to new cars
The CAFC goal calculates a sale-weighted average fuel consumption for each company's new models sold in one year. The current CAFC goal for passenger cars is 8.6 litres/100 km.
Since 1999, the EnerGuide label on all new cars has promoted public awareness of fuel consumption and costs. It reflects:
- the city and highway fuel consumption in litres/100 km
- the estimated annual fuel cost, based on estimations by Natural Resources Canada
Data provided on this label will be published in the Fuel Consumption Guide every year.
|
| Official documents |
|
| Latest & Next steps |
The use of the U.S. CAFE standard as a reference basis for Canada is no longer an appropriate means to fight global warming and meet targets under the Kyoto Protocol. The Canadian government favours more stringent CAFC standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars.
On 6 February, 2007, the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced to regulate vehicle fuel efficiency and introduce enforceable short, medium, and long term goals to track the industry's compliance. First proposals are expected for 2007.
|
| More information: |
› Company Average Fuel Consumption (CAFC) goal - website Transport Canada
 Climate Change Plan for Canada (409 KB)
|
|
|
