1985 Light-Duty Truck Fuel Economy

This paper addresses fuel economy standards that can be obtained in 1985 for two-wheel drive light-duty trucks using existing technology. To estimate the fuel economy, the fleet of trucks is first segmented into market classes based on the concept of utility. The 1985 sales share of each class is predicted from an extrapolation of current trends as well as published sales forecasts. The 1985 fuel economy of each market class is projected. Estimates of weight reduction and new model introduction within each market class were derived from published manufacturers' plans.