Our Green Energy Future

Fuel Economy

Better fuel economy standards will save consumers money and increase vehicle choice.

Consumers Union Documents

• FAQs on Fuel Economy
  Posted 01/03/12 at 12:49 pm

  Frequently Asked Questions on Fuel Economy Standards  How do fuel economy standards work? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set average mile-per-gallon targets and emissions targets for each car manufacturer’s fleet. The CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards are based on “footprint” curves, where each vehicle has a Continue Reading

• Better Fuel Economy by 2025 Will Deliver Great Value to Consumers
  Posted 12/30/11 at 12:18 pm

  Consumers will reap major savings from newly proposed higher fuel economy standards.

Press Releases

• CU: New Report Highlights the Consumer Benefits of Fuel Efficiency
  Posted 02/05/13 at 11:25 am

  Report gives further evidence that the ones really benefiting from gas sales are the oil companies

• Final Fuel Economy Standards Will Help Consumers Save at the Pump
  Posted 08/28/12 at 5:16 pm

  News Release Consumers Union – Policy and Advocacy Division of Consumer Reports For Immediate Release: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 Contact: Kara Kelber, kkelber@consumer.org, 202-462-6262 Final Fuel Economy Standards Will Help Consumers Save at the Pump WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the final details of new Continue Reading

• CONSUMER REPORTS SURVEY: AMERICANS SAY FUEL ECONOMY MOST IMPORTANT CAR BUYING FACTOR
  Posted 05/30/12 at 4:31 pm

  Nearly three-quarters of drivers would consider an alternative fuel vehicle for their next car  May 22, 2012 YONKERS, NY — With fuel prices at near record levels, consumers are driving less and contemplating a move to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, according to recent survey by Consumer Reports. The survey found that 37 percent said their leading consideration Continue Reading

• CU: New fuel standards would save consumers thousands in gasoline costs
  Posted 02/14/12 at 3:52 pm

  In a recent CR survey, consumers demonstrated strong support for fuel efficiency standards

Blog Posts

• Top 5 news stories from March on clean cars.
  Posted 04/03/13 at 8:49 am

  We saw some big things happen in the last few weeks on the road to cleaner cars. Here’s a taste: EPA announced average fuel economy hit a record high (23.8 mpg) in 2012 Hybrid sales jumped almost a third compared to the same period last year. EPA announced new tailpipe standards that will slash smog Continue Reading

• Where do we go from here on climate change?
  Posted 02/21/13 at 1:56 pm

  Super Storm Sandy forced climate change into the headlines, and the President highlighted its urgency in the State of the Union address. But most people have watched the figurative climate storm brewing for awhile. Last year was the hottest year on record in the United States, and from the near-record low levels on the Mississippi Continue Reading

• Historic Fuel Economy Standards Are Now Final
  Posted 08/28/12 at 5:11 pm

  It’s official: 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 is the new fuel economy target for automakers. It’s an historic moment—consumers will save over $1.7 trillion in fuel costs, and more than a half-million auto-industry related jobs are expected to be created by 2030 when the standards are fully in place.   Even after accounting for investment in Continue Reading

• Fuel Economy Most Important Feature for Car Purchasers
  Posted 05/30/12 at 1:11 pm

  A new survey from Consumer Reports showed keen consumer interest in fuel economy and continuing support for higher fuel economy standards. Consumers are seeing high fuel prices at the pump and more desirable efficient vehicles in the show room–precursors for a significant market shift.  The survey found that 37 percent said their leading consideration when Continue Reading

• State of Charge: Electric Vehicles’ Global Warming and Fuel-Cost Savings Across the United States
  Posted 04/17/12 at 7:38 am

  This week brings an exciting new report from our colleagues at the Union of Concerned Scientists on the consumer and environmental benefits of owning an electric vehicle (EV). The “State of Charge” report, an analysis of the global warming impacts and refueling costs of electric cars, finds that EVs have the potential to save drivers Continue Reading

• Stronger Fuel Economy Standards Enjoy Wide Support
  Posted 01/02/12 at 9:20 pm

  It would be nearly impossible to identify a policy issue right now that almost everyone supports…unless you’re talking about stronger fuel efficiency for cars. One poll after another shows Americans are in strong support of higher fuel economy standards. And what’s not to like? New rules proposed by the Obama Administration to nearly double fuel Continue Reading

• Higher fuel efficiency: finally a right turn toward progress
  Posted at 1:54 pm

  Imagine having a car that gets over 50 miles per gallon, allowing you to cut your trips to gas stations in half and help the environment at the same time? Well, if proposed rules on vehicle fuel economy from the Obama administration are finalized, this (gas) pipe dream will become a reality. In a historic Continue Reading

News Articles

• New EPA Report: Initial Data Shows Significant Gains in Fuel Economy for 2012

  EPA Press Release / March 15, 2013 WASHINGTON – Today, EPA released its annual report that tracks the fuel economy of vehicles sold in the United States, underscoring the major increases made in the efficiency of the vehicles Americans drive, reducing oil consumption and cutting carbon emissions. According to the report, EPA estimates that between 2007 and Continue Reading