Efforts to increase fuel economy and lower emissions show no signs of losing pace as the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report revealing a fifth consecutive increase in new vehicle fuel efficiency with a corresponding decrease in average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
The annual report, entitled Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 through 2009, showed that for 2008, the last year for which the EPA has final data from car manufacturers, the average fuel economy value was 21.0mpg with a small improvement expected in 2009 to 21.1mpg.
In addition, the report confirms that average CO2 emissions have fallen while fuel economy increased in each year beginning in 2005. Over that time period, average CO2 emissions have fallen by 39g/km, or eight per cent, while average fuel economy has increased by 1.8mpg, or nine per cent.
The report also found that light trucks, which include SUVs, vans and pick-up trucks, have accounted for 50 per cent of the US light duty vehicle market since MY2002. Yet after two decades of constant growth, the light truck market share has been relatively stable from 2002-2009 and is projected to be 49 per cent based on pre-model year production projections.
Automotive engineers are developing more advanced and efficient technologies and seven of the nine highest selling marketing groups increased fuel economy from 2007-2008. Preliminary values suggest four of the nine marketing groups will increase fuel economy, and lower emissions, in 2009, with one marketing group remaining at current levels.
Hybrids are projected to have a 1.8 per cent share of MY2009 sales and Honda is expected to have the lowest fleet-wide CO2 emissions (and highest fuel economy) followed closely by Hyundai-Kia and Toyota. Chrysler, meanwhile, is projected to have the highest CO2 emissions, reversing most of its gains from the previous year; while Ford is expected to show the largest CO2 reductions with its MY2009 projections being 37g/mile lower than in 2007.
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