UMTRI: average new US vehicle fuel economy in November drops; 4th month in a row of declines
04 December 2015
The average fuel economy (window-sticker value) of new vehicles sold in the US in November was 25.0 mpg (9.4 l/100km)—down 0.1 mpg from the revised value for October, according to the latest monthly report from Dr. Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). This marks the fourth straight month of declining fuel economy.
They suggested that the decline likely reflects the continuing drop in the price of gasoline in November, and the consequent increased sales of pickup trucks, SUVs, and crossovers. Fuel economy is down 0.8 mpg from the peak reached in August 2014, but still up 4.9 mpg since October 2007 (the first month of their monitoring).
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The University of Michigan Eco-Driving Index (EDI)—an index that estimates the average monthly emissions of greenhouse gases generated by an individual U.S. drive—was 0.83 in September, up 0.02 from August (the lower the value the better). This value indicates that the average new-vehicle driver produced 17% lower emissions in September 2015 than in October 2007, but 5% higher emissions than the record low reached in August 2014.
The EDI takes into account both vehicle fuel economy and distance driven (the latter relying on data that are published with a two-month lag).
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Cheap gasoline will do that. Now is the perfect time to start raising gas taxes a little at a time--the right policy for so many reasons, but not likely to happen, sadly.
Posted by: Nick Lyons | 04 December 2015 at 10:15 AM
Lower gas price + more jobs = more miles with bigger gas guzzlers?
In other words, the pocket book is the main driver, not pollution, GHG, associated health problems etc?
Posted by: HarveyD | 04 December 2015 at 03:47 PM