The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its annual vehicle fuel economy report, indicating that model year (MY) 2008 cars had an average fuel economy of 21.0mpg, an increase of 0.4mpg from the previous year. For 2009, the average is estimated at 21.1mpg, though the figure is uncertain since based on automaker’s projected sales prior to the launch of the model year. The EPA has included information on CO2 emissions for the first time. Average CO2 emissions have decreased by 39 grams per mile 8%, and the average fuel economy has increased by 1.8 mpg, or 9%, since 2004. This positive trend that began in 2005 reverses a long period of decreasing fuel economy from 1987 through 2004.

See news story on US Department of Energy website >