Featured Links

Clean Transportation Fact Sheets & Publications
U.S. Dept. of Energy	The Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center
Alternative Fuels Station Locator	Fuel Economy and Vehicle Comparisons

Fuel Fact of the Week

Fact #1037:Model Year 2017 Vehicles Were More Fuel Efficient with Improved Horsepower and Acceleration



Generally, increased performance comes as a trade-off with fuel economy. But light vehicle manufacturers have been able to employ advanced technologies to improve both performance and fuel economy. Despite a 123% increase in horsepower and 48% improvement in acceleration (measured by time to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour) from model year 1980 to 2017, the fuel economy of vehicles improved 31%. The data are based on production-weighted averages. In the 1990s and early 2000s, fuel economy decreased while vehicle weight increased. Fuel economy has improved nearly every year since 2004.

Want to know more?

Past Fuel Facts of the Week.

Question of the Month

How is fuel economy determined and reported for alternative fuel vehicles?

Last month we learned about how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determines and reports conventional light-duty vehicle fuel economy ratings. While alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) fuel economy testing is largely similar to that of conventional fuels, the EPA makes some adjustments to account for different vehicle technology and fuel energy content. By tailoring AFV fuel economy testing and reporting, the EPA is able to provide apples-to-apples comparisons and allow consumers to make informed decisions.

Want to know more?