Lower Fuel Efficiency Ratings from the EPA

In 2008, consumers will find that fuel efficiency ratings from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) will be up to 30% worse than current ratings. This is the result of a change by the EPA in their testing procedures to subject vehicles to a standard more likely to match inefficient consumer driving habits. The current test, last updated in 1984, utilizes a mixture of simulations that measure vehicle emissions at 48 and 60 mph at a temperature of 75 degrees. This hardly reflects actual consumer driving habits so the new testing procedure will utilize varying temperatures, higher speeds and a variety of strains against the engine.

The new procedures come with more impact than reduced fuel efficiency numbers. Beginning in 2011, manufacturers will be required to provide testing data for large SUVs and trucks because consumers buy them for daily use. These vehicles were previously exempt from testing due to their manufacturer intended use as commercial vehicles. Additionally, the high ratings on hybrid fuel efficiency will drop as the advanced tests will require more use of the engine and less of the electric motors. Consumers may not find hybrids nearly as eco-friendly nor worth the cost after the numbers deflate.