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Fuel Economy
Knowing the fuel economy ratings of vehicles can save you lots of money to use for other things in Baie-Comeau. Luckily, information from the EPA makes it easy for you to research and choose the best vehicle for your personal situation.
Federal law requires that automobile manufacturers determine the fuel economy of vehicles they offer for sale in the United States. This determination is an average of approximately how far the vehicle can travel under city and highway conditions on one gallon of gasoline, and is referred to as a miles per gallon (MPG) rating. Consumers are informed of this rating through a label affixed to the window of new vehicles in order to assist them in making informed decisions about fuel economy when purchasing a vehicle. As of 2007, the labels affixed to cars, light trucks and SUVs also include information on the estimated annual cost of fueling the vehicle, and compares it to others within its class.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the federal agency which determines the methods used for estimating fuel economy ratings. Testing methods include representations of high speeds and fast acceleration, air conditioner use, low outside temperatures, among others. As of 2007, the EPA uses the following criteria to define the driving conditions for which fuel economy is calculated:
- City or urban driving, considers an environment where the vehicle is started with a cold engine, and then driven in stop-and-go rush hour traffic. The driving cycle used for testing includes idling and an average speed of approximately 20 mph (32 kph).
- Highway, or rural and freeway driving, considers an environment where the vehicle is driven with a warmed-up engine that is typical of long trips in free-flowing traffic. The driving cycle used for testing does not include intermediate stops or idling, and an average speed of approximately 48 mph (77 kph).
MPG estimates are also adjusted downward to account for factors that are difficult to replicate in a laboratory, such as wind and road surface resistance, which can vary.
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) offers a variety of resources on their FuelEconomy.gov website. In addition to fuel economy rating information, the site also provides information on greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution ratings, and safety information for both new and used vehicles. A fuel rconomy guide which allows side-by-side comparisons is also available. This guide is also available in a version that is specially formatted for use on PDA's and other mobile devices. In addition, a tool for calculating actual fuel economy is also available.
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