| New AAA Study Looks at Fuel
Economy Labeling Test Procedures
AAA has released a new report conducted by the Automobile Club of
Southern California's Automotive Research Center (ARC) that confirms the
need to revise testing procedures for fuel economy labeling so that
consumers can make informed decisions when they purchase new vehicles.
The study also demonstrates that at least one existing Environmental
Protection Agency test--known as the USO6 emissions certification
test--comes closer to reflecting real world driving conditions and more
accurately estimates fuel economy. The release of the report coincides with EPA's announcement of proposed new fuel economy labeling procedures and confirms that the agency is taking an important step in committing to change the way it calculates fuel economy. The existing testing procedures for fuel economy labeling are 30 years old. "From AAA's perspective, it's about one simple truth: Consumers want to know that the information they see on a government-sanctioned label reasonably reflects what they will experience on the road," said Robert L. Darbelnet, AAA president and CEO. "The government can do a better job to achieve that objective, and we can do it without creating an entirely new testing system." Using their state-of-the-art emissions and vehicle test laboratory, the Auto Club's ARC technicians gathered owner miles per gallon data from 41 vehicles, representing 18 models that include the most popular vehicles on the road today. These data were collected through a series of rigorous scientific tests that included: gathering motorists' actual mileage over at least a one-month period, testing at least one of each model in the laboratory, and measuring fuel economy by driving the cars tested in the lab over a 100-mile standardized loop. The results show that 90 percent (36 out of 41) of the vehicles experienced mileage worse than the current EPA estimate--by an average of four mpg and an average deviation of 15.7 percent. ARC researchers then conducted a series of tests using an existing EPA test typically used for monitoring emissions called the "USO6" test. This test simulates aggressive driving, congestion and high speeds. The results show that the USO6 test resulted in only a one mpg, or a 4.4 percent deviation, from the "real world" test. "Our research confirms the current testing system EPA uses to determine mpg ratings in many instances significantly overestimates real world mpg ratings because it does not account for the way we drive today," said Steven Mazor, manager of the Automotive Research Center of the Automobile Club of Southern California. "The USO6 test does a better job of estimating mpg and it can be done without requiring manufacturers to create a new and costly testing system."
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