EPA: Industry Exceeded National GHG Emissions Standards In 2013
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the auto industry outperformed national greenhouse gas emissions standards for a second consecutive year.
For MY 2013 vehicles, the average GHG emission came to 12 grams per mile — 1.4 miles per gallon — better than what was required by the 2013 standard. The EPA also found that MY 2013 vehicles delivered an all-time high average fuel economy of 24.1 mpg, while CO2 emissions remain at a record low. The agency notes that automakers are achieving these gains through the use of optional flexibilities, including fleet averaging and improved air conditioning systems.
The GHG standards cover light-duty vehicles made from MY 2012 through MY 2025, and are expected to save 12 billion barrels of oil while cutting 6 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases “over the lifetimes of vehicles sold in these years.” The EPA says most manufacturers — “representing more than 99% of sales” — met both 2012 and 2013 standards, while the rest have “several more years to come into compliance.”
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Awesome. Good to hear positive news once in a while.
There is no practical way to figure this out, but I wonder how the real-world mileage average would compare to the EPA Standards, what with the continuing increase in the number of "built to test" turbo 4-cylinder engines?
The gains in Pickup truck emissions/MPG's must be helping quite a bit - considering their sales volumes.
Is that 24.1 MPG with the old standards, new standards, or some completely different standards? Also, does it include multipliers for E85 capable vehicles and electric vehicles? Bottom line (I suppose): if you bought a new vehicle that achieved 21 MPG in the real world would you be improving or hurting the national average?