The Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in collaboration with Seattle-based agency PRR, has introduced a revamped fuel economy label posted on the window sticker of all new 2013 cars and light-duty trucks sold in the US. The goal is to help consumers compare vehicles and make smart choices on fuel economy. Critical to that mission is ensuring that the science of fuel economy makes sense to car shoppers.
The labels now present:
• New ways to compare energy use and cost between new-technology cars that use electricity and conventional cars that are gasoline-powered.
• Useful estimates on how much consumers will save or spend on fuel over the next five years compared to the average new vehicle.
• Easy-to-read ratings of how a model compares to all others for smog emissions and emissions of pollution that contribute to climate change.
• An estimate of how much fuel or electricity it takes to drive 100 miles.
• Information on the driving range and charging time of an electric vehicle.