EPA - US Average Fuel Efficiency Unchanged Since 1994 - 21 MPG

[hatrack]

The U.S. EPA has released its latest report on fuel efficiency in U.S. vehicles. The report analyzes all light-duty vehicles produced from 1975 to 2006 and comes as fuel-economy ratings stagnate, fuel costs rise, and Americans grow concerned about greenhouse-gas emissions.

EPA reveals that vehicle weight and acceleration performance have increased since 1975, while car and light-truck fuel economy has remained relatively constant. These findings apply to the top six U.S.-based automakers, General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen.

After a steady increase in vehicle fuel efficiency from 1975 through the mid-1980s, average fuel economy peaked at 22.1 mpg in vehicles produced in 1987–1988. After that, automobile fuel economy gradually decreased until stabilizing at 21 mpg in 1994.

Light-duty vehicles, such as cars, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), and pickup trucks, account for ~40% of U.S. oil consumption and 20% of annual U.S. CO2 emissions. EPA officials are concerned that automakers are introducing better vehicle design while only meeting the minimum requirements for federally mandated Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.

EDIT

http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2006/aug/policy/cs_fueleconomy.html

[Kutjara]

1. Even this only tells half the story.

The 'steady increase in fuel efficiency from 1975 to 1985' came after a long period of declining efficiency in the 1950s and '60s (when the post-war boom increased demand for huge, inefficient vehicles). The actual fuel efficiency of passenger cars in 1985 (or '95 or '05 for that matter) was no better than for prewar cars.

Here's the real kicker: The Model-T Ford got 25 MPG. That's 4 MPG better than today's average.