article thumbnail

ORNL researchers quantify the effect of increasing highway speed on fuel economy

Green Car Congress

This website, jointly maintained by the US Department of Energy and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), provides information such as official EPA “window label” fuel economy estimates for city, highway, and combined driving for all U.S.-legal drop in fuel economy due to traveling 80 mph rather than 70 mph.

article thumbnail

ORNL study quantifies fuel economy costs of common driver practices and vehicle alterations

Green Car Congress

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have quantified the fuel economy effects of some common driver practices and vehicle accessories or alterations—including underinflated tires, open windows, and rooftop and hitch-mounted cargo. liter four-cylinder engine, also suffered as its fuel economy dipped 22% from 42.5

article thumbnail

EPA fuel economy report finds weight and power leveling off, footprint stable

Green Car Congress

EPA recently released the latest edition of its annual report Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Fuel Economy Trends. The report is the authoritative reference for real-world fuel economy, technology trends and tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions, for new personal vehicles sold in the US every year since 1975.

article thumbnail

EPA Trends on EVs and PHEVs; beginning of a “measurable and meaningful impact” on new vehicle fuel economy and emissions

Green Car Congress

With alternative fuel vehicles now approaching 1% of new vehicle production, however, they are in fact beginning to have a “ measurable and meaningful impact ” on overall new vehicle fuel economy and CO 2 emissions. In the analysis, EPA uses overall fuel economy in mpg equivalent (mpge) and tailpipe CO 2 emission values.

article thumbnail

UMTRI: US new vehicle fuel economy stayed the same in July

Green Car Congress

After a three-month drop, fuel economy of all new vehicles sold in the United States remained unchanged in July, according to researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). Average fuel economy (window-sticker values) of cars, light trucks, minivans and SUVs purchased last month was 23.6

article thumbnail

Chrysler Group launches second phase of PHEV minivan project

Green Car Congress

Three plug-in hybrid-electric Chrysler Town & Country minivans ( earlier post ) went into service with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), bringing to 25 the total number of such vehicles on US roads. Components of the flex-fuel PHEV minivan. Components of the flex-fuel PHEV minivan. Click to enlarge.

Minivan 236
article thumbnail

Report: Toyota To Launch Lithium-Ion Prius Minivan Hybrid In Early 2011

Green Car Congress

will introduce a new Prius minivan equipped with Li-ion batteries early next year—the first of a coming rollout of hybrids equipped with Li-ion packs. The Nikkei reports that Toyota Motor Corp. It will likely feature three rows of seats for carrying five to seven people.