2008: The most fuel efficient year yet
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the fleet of cars sold in the U.S. through the first half of the year averaged 26.8 mpg. That's a new record, and it is being pushed by the rapid move from larger cars, trucks and SUVs into smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles. For reference, last year's rating stood at 26.6 miles per gallon. While these numbers can be useful for tracking the overall average mileage of new cars in the States, these are actually the CAFE numbers that the government uses for keeping tabs on the automakers. As has been widely covered, these figures aren't really the most accurate numbers available as there are provisions for automakers to improve their scores through the use of alternative fuels. Some manufacturers also carry over credits from past years when they surpassed the CAFE requirements. Still, a fuel mileage improvement is a good thing, and it's likely to only get better as fuel prices remain high enough to impact purchasing decisions.[Source: The Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
stas peterson 9:13AM (8/21/2008)
I don't know what the figures quoted by NHTSA are, but they are not what the same government reports in its Energy Information Agency.
http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_04_23.html
There the EIA reports that by the CAFE measuring rules the averge automobile obtained over 30 mpg. Autos have had to meet a standard of 27,5 mpg for several decades. If this is supposed to be the average car and truck combined mileage figure, th estory DOES NOT SAY THAT. It is possible but remember that by the exact same measuring stick in the mid 1970as, the most efficient car only obtained 16,mpg overall. And it was a subcompact VW beetle., not a hulking SUV.
Once again the reporters and journalists have their heads up their cloacal cavities, and no not of what they speak.
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BlackbirdHighway 11:34PM (8/14/2008)
CAFE leader for 2008: Tesla Motors with a Corporate Average Fuel Economy of 244 mpg. Honda and Toyota are right behind at 35 and 34.
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