Based on the gas guzzler tax, this should be a fun ride.
The old miles-per-gallon (mpg) measurement is losing its effectiveness. For one, environmental concerns are gaining in importance, and they key metric measuring environmental impact is not mpg but the amount of carbon emissions per distance travelled. In the US, that means CO2g/mile. The common European measurement is CO2 g/km. For another, the emergence of electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), and compressed natural gas vehicles (CNGs) makes comparing the cost of operating such a vehicle, and associated efficiency very difficult.
To provide consumers an easy way to make an informed buying decision, the EPA and DOT have created new fuel economy and environmental impact labels. The new labels will be mandatory staring with the 2013 model year. The most obvious change here is the addition of "environmental impact" as part of the sticker. The other major change is that there are now ten different types of labels.
- Gasoline Label
- Gasoline Vehicle with Gas Guzzler Tax
- Flexible Fuel Vehicle: Gasoline-Ethanol (E85) Without Driving Range
- Flexible Fuel Vehicle: Gasoline-Ethanol (E85) with Optional Driving Range
- Diesel Vehicle
- CNG
- PHEV (Series)
- PHEV (Blended)
- EV
- FCV
That should clear things up nicely.
All kidding aside, these new labels do provide much more granular information. Just as not all auto buyers are AutoTidbits readers, not all auto buyers understand or want to understand the technicalities underlying their new vehicles. To make things easier, the new labels provide two savings numbers that should help, an annual fuel cost estimate and an estimate of how much the vehicles consumers (in USD) compared to the average vehicle over a five-year span.
Perhaps more in spirit with the new labels, this car will have low operating costs.
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