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The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute reported that the average fuel economy of new cars sold in the U.S. has reached 25.4 miles per gallon in March 2014. To put that figure into perspective, the national average barely crept above 20 mpg in October 2007. Environmentalists will be thrilled to find out that CO2 emissions on new cars steadily keep going down as well. The UMTRI's Eco-Driving Index was 0.80 in January, representing a 20 percent decrease in emissions from seven years ago.
Increasing fuel economy and lower emissions on new cars come as a consequence of rising gas prices and technological advancements going hand in hand with federal regulations like the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE). The extensive use of lightweight materials in constructing the chassis and bodywork, as well as hybrid powertrains and smart engines with Start-Stop technology made vehicles more efficient and environmentally friendly than the ones from the not-so-distant past. Fuel economy remains the top criteria for U.S. new-car shoppers and sales of plug-in electric cars are steadily increasing.
However, a 2012 study revealed that more than 40 percent of drivers wouldn't change the type of vehicle they drive at the moment (eg: compact, SUV, pickup truck) even if gas price went up to $10 per gallon. But the more petrol we pump out of the ground, the more gas prices will continue to rise, so expect that headstrong tendency to falter in no time at all.
And let's not forget about the extremely strict set of rules EPA and NHTSA announced for model years 2017 through 2025, chief among which is the fleet-wide CAFE of 54.5 miles per gallon by the year 2025.
However, a 2012 study revealed that more than 40 percent of drivers wouldn't change the type of vehicle they drive at the moment (eg: compact, SUV, pickup truck) even if gas price went up to $10 per gallon. But the more petrol we pump out of the ground, the more gas prices will continue to rise, so expect that headstrong tendency to falter in no time at all.
And let's not forget about the extremely strict set of rules EPA and NHTSA announced for model years 2017 through 2025, chief among which is the fleet-wide CAFE of 54.5 miles per gallon by the year 2025.
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