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EPA: U.S. average fuel economy hit new record in 2009

Filed under: Government/Legal

window sticker shopping

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, which first started keeping track of such things way back in 1975 around the time of the first fuel crisis in America, the average fuel economy of all vehicles sold in the U.S. hit a record high in 2009. For those favoring hard data, that equals 22.4 miles per gallon. Not surprisingly, average fuel economy has been on an upward path over the last several years (minus a small dip in 2008).

These mileage increases are being achieved through all sorts of electronic gadgetry, despite significant gains in both horsepower and overall vehicle weight. It’s also interesting to note that the percentage of trucks sold dropped from 47 percent to just 40 percent.

It should be pointed out that the way the EPA figures fuel mileage varies greatly from the numbers used to determine an automaker’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE. The EPA’s numbers, which are about 20 percent lower than those use for CAFE reporting, are said to be more realistic representations of everyday usage.

For what it’s worth, the EPA is currently predicting that a new, slightly higher record will again be set in 2010: 22.5 mpg. Yes, that’s just a tenth of a mile per gallon higher than ’09, but let’s take what we can get, shall we?

[Source: The Detroit News | Image: Tim Boyle/Getty]

EPA: U.S. average fuel economy hit new record in 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Volts ready to ship, just need official EPA mileage stickers

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Government/Legal, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery

The first batch of production Chevy Volts are ready to ship, they’re just waiting on the EPA to issue an official mileage label. General Motors global product chief Tom Stephens told Automotive News that the required sticker certifying the Volt’s miles per gallon rating is expected “any day,” and that’s a requirement before the vehicles can head out the door.

As we reported a few weeks ago, when the 2011 Fuel Economy Guide was released by the EPA and DOE, the Volt just missed being included in the publication because, as the EPA stated, “no 2011 model year electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have completed testing as of publication of this list.” The Toyota Prius was again listed as the most fuel efficient available in the U.S., but we’ll soon be able to see where the Volt stands in terms of official fuel economy.

The Volt, named the Motor Trend 2011 Car of the Year, can run 25 to 50 miles on battery only and an additional 310 miles when assisted by the gasoline engine. GM is pushing through with its plans of producing 10,000 Volts through 2011 and 45,000 in 2012.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req’d]

Chevy Volts ready to ship, just need official EPA mileage stickers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EPA issues first-ever fuel efficiency and emissions standard proposal for heavy-duty vehicles

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Work, Specialty, Diesel

semi truck

As expected, the EPA has released its first-ever proposal for greenhouse gas and fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty vehicles. The proposal, and that’s all it is at this point, would create three new categories for heavy trucks: combination tractors, heavy-duty pickups and vans, and vocational vehicles. The rules will cover on-road vehicles with a gross vehicle weight at or above 8,500 pounds, unless these vehicles are already covered under CAFE. All of these proposals would start with the 2014 model year and make some big improvements relatively soon. The EPA is working with the DOT and NHTSA on the joint standards, which will have two types of metrics.

For pick-ups and vans, the metric will be gram per mile (and gallon per 100-miles) based on payload.
For vocational vehicles and combination tractors, the standards are gram per ton-mile (and gallon per 1,000 ton-mile).

Each of the three categories has different targets.

Combination tractors (commonly known as semi trucks) would get new engine and vehicle standards and, according to the EPA, “achieve up to a 20 percent reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and fuel consumption by 2018 model year,” compared to a 2010 baseline.
Heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans would fall under emissions rules that are similar to the rules that govern light-duty trucks and passenger cars. There would be separate gasoline and diesel standards that would, “achieve up to a 10 percent reduction for gasoline vehicles and 15 percent reduction for diesel vehicles by 2018 model year (12 and 17 percent respectively if accounting for air conditioning leakage).”
For vocational vehicles, the proposed standards would reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions up to 10 percent by 2018 model year.

(This post continues after the jump.)

Continue reading EPA issues first-ever fuel efficiency and emissions standard proposal for heavy-duty vehicles

EPA issues first-ever fuel efficiency and emissions standard proposal for heavy-duty vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: EPA poised to outline medium- and heavy-duty truck emissions standards

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Technology, Diesel

18-wheeler on the move

The EPA appears to be close to releasing its proposal for medium and heavy-duty truck fuel economy standards. As you may remember, the Obama Administration called for the first-ever standards for large work vehicles earlier this year. According to The New York Times, a spokesperson with the EPA has said that the initial proposal will be out soon. Analysts had expected the numbers to show up this week, but that’s looking less and less likely by the hour.

Surprisingly enough, heavy truck manufacturers don’t seem to be up in arms over the thought of new fuel economy standards. The New York Times says that the EPA has a history of working closely with big truck makers to reduce emissions, and that this is the next logical step. The EPA and truckmakers say agree that today’s diesel rigs crank out 60 times less particulate matter than similar equipment did in 1988. That’s thanks in no small part to the EPA’s clean trucks program, which is geared toward promoting clean-diesel technology.

The new fuel economy standards are expected to show up in a climate bill that already regulates fuel consumption for passenger cars, light-duty trucks and stationary devices like generators.

[Source: The New York Times | Image: Ethan Miller/Getty]

Report: EPA poised to outline medium- and heavy-duty truck emissions standards originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EPA says E15 is ready for prime time… and your new-ish car

Filed under: Government/Legal

oil in a corn field

A little number on your friendly local gas station pump might be about to change. Instead of 10 percent (E10), America’s national gasoline supply can now contain a blend of fuel that contains up to 15 percent ethanol (E15) following an announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency today. The caveat, for now, is that this fuel is only to be used in cars built since 2007.

So, that means that there could easily be five liquid fuels at a single gas station: ethanol-free gasoline, E10, E15, E85 and diesel – and this isn’t counting different octane blends of “standard” gas. It also means that some gas station owners are saying they’re not too interested in adding E15 pumps right now. USA Today says it is likely the EPA will approve E15 for older vehicles after more tests are conducted this month. The USDA – which cares because so much domestically grown corn is used to make the ethanol – and the ethanol industry support the EPA’s decision. The CEO of ethanol company Poet, Jeff Broin, said in a statement that:

The arguments being made right now against E15 are the same as those made about E10 back in the late 1980s, when I entered the ethanol industry. Seventy billion gallons later, we have proven those arguments false, just as research on E15 is proving critics wrong today.

For the past 18 months or so, the E10/E15 story has been hard-fought on both sides, with supporters for the increased biofuel content saying that the fuel will be fine in most any vehicles on the road today and opponents saying there needs to be more testing because of warranty concerns. The Renewable Fuels Association took a particularly strong stand. Feel free to read more from some of the parties involved after the break.

[Source: USA Today, USDA | | Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images]

Continue reading EPA says E15 is ready for prime time… and your new-ish car

EPA says E15 is ready for prime time… and your new-ish car originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How EPA’s new fuel economy label would grade current cars

Filed under: Government/Legal

EPA Fuel Economy Sample Grades – Click above to view entire list

Twenty years ago, the federal government made it mandatory for most food products to carry nutrition information based on a 2,000 calorie diet in the 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Information Act. In doing so, the feds simultaneously ensured that graphic designers the world over would run into the headache of squeezing the now-familiar Nutrition Facts chart onto food packages and that the public at large would have at least some clue as to what they were shoving down their pie-hole. Now the EPA and the DOT are in the process of pulling a similar maneuver for vehicle fuel economy.

Needless to say, this has made us a little curious as to how the current fleet of vehicles being sold here in the states would fare in the new rating system. Fortunately, the EPA has answered that very question. Buried deep in the 242-page explanation of the label is a table that breaks down a handful of vehicles by grade. At the very top of the list, earning an A+ are EVs, followed quickly by plug-in hybrids. A little bit lower on the list in the A- category are cars like the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius.

As you might expect, larger vehicles and those with gargantuan engines fall lower down the grading scale. The lowest example on the list? That would be the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti at a lowly D.

Gallery: EPA Fuel Economy Sample Grades

[Source: EPA]

How EPA’s new fuel economy label would grade current cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New fuel economy labels proposed by EPA and DOT

Filed under: Government/Legal

EPA/DOT Proposed Fuel Economy Labels – Click above for high-res versions

According to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation are charged with designing new fuel economy labels for vehicle stickers that appear in the window of new vehicles at the dealership. Today the two agencies have put forth a pair of design proposals and are asking the public to comment on which they like better and why.

Both labels have been designed to better incorporate new vehicle types that aren’t represented well by the current labels, including mainly electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. In addition to information already provided (fuel economy and estimated annual fuel cost), the new labels would also add such things as indicators for carbon dioxide and other smog-promoting emissions, fuel cost savings compared to an average gasoline-powered vehicle of the same model year and even a QR code that allows smartphones to collect the data.

In order to accommodate the growing crop of EVs and plug-in hybrids, the new proposed labels would also translate the energy usage of such vehicles into a miles per gallon equivalent, or MPGe. In the case of the first label design (the tall, thin one), a letter grade would also be featured prominently that corresponds to a vehicle’s overall environmental performance.

You can check out both designs in the gallery below, or head over to epa.gov/fueleconomy and tell these agencies what you think directly. Either way, a new label’s on its way, so speak now or forever hold your tongue.

Gallery: EPA/DOT Proposed Fuel Economy Labels

[Source: EPA]

New fuel economy labels proposed by EPA and DOT originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mahindra diesel pickups finally get EPA certification

Filed under: Budget, Truck, Government/Legal, Diesel

Mahindra Pik-Up – Click above for high-res image gallery

At long last, Mahindra can get in the business of actually selling its Pik-Ups instead of waiting for the EPA and fighting with its dealers. PickupTrucks.com reports that the little Indian truck has finally received EPA certification, meaning that retail sales of the TR20 and TR40 diesel pickups can begin next year.

Global Vehicles (Mahindra’s U.S. distributor) put on a happy face, saying, “Our dealers are excited as well. This is great news,” but it’s unclear how this development will affect the ongoing litigation between the two entities. Global Vehicles recently sued Mahindra for missing three deadlines to have its trucks ready for sale, claiming that GV and its dealer body spent $95 million getting everything prepared. Our guess is that they’ll find some timely way to kiss and make up so that you can get your $22,000 Pik-Up as soon as possible.

Gallery: Mahindra Pik-Up

mahindra-pickup-large_21 mahindra-pickup-large_11 mahindra-pickup-large_22 mahindra-pickup-large_12 mahindra-pickup-large_13

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Mahindra diesel pickups finally get EPA certification originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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