New cars continue to beat GHG standards

According to two recently released reports, passenger vehicles for model year 2015 continued to have fuel efficiency improvements beyond those required for passenger vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency has reported. The GHG Manufacturer Performance Report for 2015 Model Year indicates that on average the vehicle fleet exceeded the standard for that year by an equivalent of 0.9 miles per gallon, an improvement about 35 percent better than had been mandated.

The 2016 CO2 and Fuel Economy Trends Report indicated that on average the fuel economy for vehicles for model year 2015 improved by 0.5 miles per gallon to a record 24.8 miles per gallon, with improvements being found for all vehicle types, including passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, minivans and light duty pickup trucks. Since 2011 fuel economy has improved by 2.4 miles per gallon, with carbon dioxide emissions falling by 10 percent.

“Car buyers can go to the showroom knowing that no matter what kind of vehicle they buy, it will be better for the climate - and their wallets - than ever before,” said Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality. “This report highlights that the industry is providing vehicles that customers want, while reaching new levels of environmental performance.”

EPA says that automakers have been rapidly adopting fuel-efficient technologies such as turbo-charging, smaller engines, improved transmissions, vehicle weight reductions, aerodynamic improvements and idle stop-start technology. Improved accessories such as more efficient air conditioning systems also help.

In fact, more than 100 models for 2016, on sale now, already exceed the GHG emissions standards for 2020, EPA says.

- ALAN BAILEY