The New EPA Method

For some 20 years I have heard people complain that their [ fill in the blank ] has Never been able to get the mileage the manufacturer and salesman promised. Well, of course not. If you’ve read my trade tip #26 on www.mygmconnection.com you’d know that neither the manufacturer nor the dealer came up with those mileage figures – it was the Federal Government! Imagine that, the government was less than accurate in a statement to the public.

In 2007 things began to change. The EPA modified the test procedures for determining the average city and highway mileage figures. The test vehicles are still run under controlled conditions to allow for valid comparisons, but those conditions have been modified. They now include aggressive acceleration, high speed freeway driving, use of the vehicle’s air conditioning system and even a 20 degree cold start simulation.

Simulating more realistic driving conditions had the expected effect – the EPA mileage ratings went down - typically from 2 to 10 miles per gallon. Hardest hit appears to have been the long overrated hybrids.

There is no mention of which makes or models that neither faired best or worst nor was there an average adjustment mentioned in the research I performed. For more information check out the data and a video at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/ratings2008.shtml .

Here’s something else for you to consider… a Boeing 737 burns approximately 1,000 to 2,000 gallons of aviation fuel per hour. That’s about 25 gallons (more than the average automotive gas tank capacity) per MINUTE.

Who monitors the exhaust emissions and efficiency of airplanes?