Policy making in the United States regarding automotive fuel economy (miles per gallon) starts with federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. CAFE standards are enforced via a process that literally removes the driver from the vehicle; test vehicles are placed on a chassis dynamometer and put through a precise, computer-regulated sequence of speeds and distances. Results are communicated to new vehicle buyers via the Monroney sticker on every new passenger car and light-duty truck sold in the U.S. with this caveat: “Actual results may vary for many reasons, including driving conditions and how you drive and maintain your vehicle.”
Taking advantage of this variability to maximize on-road fuel economy is often referred to as “eco-driving.” Eco-driving may address other important policy goals, including reduced pollutant emissions, improved safety, and improved traffic flow. In this way, eco-driving is implicated in a far broader set of policies and therefore relevant to a wide array of policy makers.