EPA Releases Fuel Economy Figures for 2009

The EPA is projecting another increase in fuel efficiency for MY 2009 vehicles. That's the fifth consecutive year in a row in which ca...

The EPA is projecting another increase in fuel efficiency for MY 2009 vehicles. That's the fifth consecutive year in a row in which car makers and buyers have made and bought more fuel efficient cars. Although the gain from last year was small, 21.0 mpg to 21.1 mpg, the five year gain sits at 9% since 2004.

The numbers for 2008 were finalized in the report, while the numbers for 2009 are still being projected, with the authors cautioning that 2009 has been turbulent and "It is impossible to predict whether actual MY2009 fuel economy will be higher or lower than the preliminary MY2009 value."

The fuel efficiency gains (if they are realized) are coming despite the prediction that weight and performance will also be increasing from 2008, albeit slightly.

Something to keep in mind when you read the following table:
Most of the CO2 emissions and fuel economy values in this report are a single adjusted composite (combined city/highway) CO2 emissions or fuel economy value, consistent with the real-world estimates for city and highway fuel economy provided to consumers on new vehicle labels, in the EPA/DOE Fuel Economy Guide, and in EPA's Green Vehicle Guide.

MY2007 – 2009 Marketing Group Fuel Economy and Carbon Dioxide Emissions
(Adjusted Composite Values)
Marketing
Group
MY2007
MY2008
MY2009
Fuel Economy
CO2
Fuel Economy
CO2
Fuel Economy
CO2


(mpg)
(g/mi)
(mpg)
(g/mi)
(mpg)
(g/mi)
Honda
23.3
382
23.9
372
23.6
376
Hyundai-Kia
22.9
388
23.7
374
23.4
380
Toyota
23.3
382
22.8
389
23.2
383
Volkswagen
21.9
405
22.3
398
22.8
398
Nissan
21.3
418
21.9
406
21.6
411
BMW
21.5
415
21.2
419
21.6
412
General Motors
19.2
463
19.7
452
19.9
447
Ford
18.9
471
19.4
459
20.5
434
Chrysler
18.6
479
19.3
460
18.7
476
All
20.6
432
21
424
21.1
422

One thing to keep in mind when you see such small overall gains is the upcoming changes in the CAFE rules.  Car makers are going to be pushed to increase their fuel efficiency at a high rate over the coming years.

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