 On the dynamometer, a professional driver runs the vehicle through a standardized driving routine,
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Fuel economy is measured under controlled conditions in a laboratory using a standardized test procedure specified by federal law. Manufacturers test their own vehicles—usually pre-production prototypes—and report the results to EPA. EPA reviews the results and confirms about 10-15 percent of them through their own tests at the National Vehicles and Fuel Emissions Laboratory.
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 New vehicles will not obtain their optimal fuel economy until the engine has broken in.
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 Small variations in the way vehicles are manufactured and assembled can cause MPG variations among vehicles of the same make and model.
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Some fuels contain less energy than others. Using oxygenated fuels or reformulated gasoline (RFG), for example, can cause a small decrease (1-3%) in fuel economy.
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A poorly tuned engine burns more fuel.
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Quick acceleration and heavy braking can reduce fuel economy by up to 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent around town. New EPA tests account for faster acceleration rates, but vigorous driving can still lower MPG.
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These latter surveys (except those done in California) provide all properties necessary to estimate complex model emissions performance. The complex model estimates volatile organic compound (VOC), toxics and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emission reductions, relative to a baseline fuel representative of 1990 gasoline, as a function of fuel properties. RFG emission performance standards specify the required reductions from the baseline. The summary tables include average complex model performance calculations for years 1998 and later. Since 1998 and 1999 RFG performance standards were based on the Phase I complex model, the average Phase I model reductions for these years are shown. However, there are differences between the Phase I and Phase II models, so Phase I and Phase II percent reductions are not directly comparable. In order to facilitate comparison of Phase I and Phase II RFG, EPA has calculated the Phase II complex model emissions performance of each 1998 and 1999 sample and reported average Phase II reductions in the summary tables.
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Regulation of Fuel and Fuel Additives: Reformulated Gasoline Requirements for former severe nonattainment areas under the 1-hour ozone standard that were redesignated to attainment for the 1-hour standard prior to its revocation, and which are current nonattainment areas for the 8-hour ozone standard (notice of proposed rulemaking).
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Reformulated gasoline ("RFG") is gasoline blended to burn cleaner and reduce smog-forming and toxic pollutants in the air we breathe. About 75 million people are breathing cleaner air because of RFG.
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About 146 million people live in counties where monitored air pollution levels in 2002 reached unhealthy levels.
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1.7 million gallons of petroleum are spilled into U.S. waters from vessels and pipelines in a typical year—a single major spill can double that amount. Using less oil may make future spills less likely.
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Greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced from the combustion of fossil fuels have the potential to raise the Earth's temperature, causing global climate change. Highway vehicles are a major source of man-made GHGs in the U.S., accounting for about 25% of our CO2 emissions each year (about 1.5 billion metric tonnes in 2003).
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Our dependence upon oil, especially foreign oil, affects our economy and our national energy security. Today, over half of the oil we use is imported (58%) and our dependence will increase as we use up domestic resources. Most of the world's oil reserves are concentrated in the Middle East, and about two-thirds are controlled by OPEC members. Oil price shocks and price manipulation by OPEC have cost our economy dearly—about $7 trillion from 1979 to 2000 cost the U.S. economy—and each major price shock was followed by a recession. With growing U.S. imports and increasing world dependence on OPEC oil, future price shocks are possible and would be costly to the U.S. economy.
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Saves You Money You can save $200-$1,500 in fuel costs each year by choosing the most efficient vehicle that meets your needs. This can add up to thousands of dollars over a vehicle’s lifetime. Fuel-efficient models come in all shapes and sizes, so you don't have to sacrifice utility or size. You can also increase the fuel economy of you current vehicle by adopting good driving habits and maintaining your vehicle.
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Thinking about buying a new vehicle? You've come to the right place. www.fueleconomy.gov has gas mileage estimates and more information for 1985-2007 model year cars. Selecting which vehicle to purchase is the most important fuel economy decision you'll make. The difference between a car that gets 20 MPG and one that gets 30 MPG amounts to $744 per year (assuming 15,000 miles of driving annually and a fuel cost of $2.97). That's $3,720 extra in fuel costs over five years!
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Combining errands into one trip saves you time and money. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. Trip planning ensures that traveling is done when the engine is warmed-up and efficient. With a little planning, you can avoid retracing your route and reduce the distance you travel as well. You'll not only save fuel, but also reduce wear and tear on your car.
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Odometer Method
MPG can be calculated in four easy steps: | | Step 1. | Filling the vehicle's gas tank completely and writing down the vehicle's odometer reading (mileage). | Example: The last time the tank was filled, the odometer reading was 32,645.1 miles. | |
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| You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer. |
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| | Fuel Economy Benefit: | up to 3% | | | Equivalent Gasoline Savings: | up to $0.10/gallon | | | | | |
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Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent. | | | Fuel Economy Benefit: | 4% | | | Equivalent Gasoline Savings: | $0.13/gallo | | | | |
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