If it sounds like an archaic government rule that makes little difference to the fuel economy of vehicles, well – it is. But that may very well change. Hamstrung by the price of oil and consumption demands, politicians have dusted off CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) in an attempt to deal with growing discontent over the price of gasoline and the issue of oil consumption. First enacted by Congress in 1975 during the Oil Embargo, CAFE is meant to “reduce energy consumption by increasing the fuel economy of cars and light trucks.” Given the fact that the standard set in 1975. Trouble is, the standard never changed – for 20 years – the result of furious lobbying efforts by automakers and a nation that really didn’t care too much about fuel economy.

Now that we do care, politicians in Washington are making all sorts of noises about upping the standard. And in fact, they already have, issuing a new CAFE mileage marker of 24.1 for light trucks (including larger SUVs), to be met by 2011. But before you think that the Feds are getting serious about this thing, consider that the new mandate requires trucks and SUVs that weigh between 8,500 and 10,000 lbs. to up their fuel economy by one mile for 2007 model year vehicles. Over the next five years, those fuel economy ratings must go up only about 4 miles to meet the standard.

The president also wants Congress to up the fuel economy standard for cars, which is currently set at 27.5 miles per gallon, and wants to change CAFE standards for cars to be based on the size of vehicles. On paper, that would make it a more precise tool to use in policing automaker fuel efficiency, helping to offset the practice of building a few super-small and fuel efficient vehicles to counteract the thousands of large, gas guzzling -- and very profitable – SUVs and trucks.

It’s all a bit late in the game, and will have no impact in the here and now, as automakers will get years to meet the new standards. So... who cares? In the future, it could be more than a very past-due initiative that needs to be revised. In the future, CAFE – if used surgically instead of blindly, could result in automakers refining the efficiency of their engines and offer vehicles within segments that get better fuel economy and put out fewer emissions.