The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) latest Automotive Trends Report reveals a significant milestone for model-year 2022 vehicles, showing the lowest carbon emissions and highest fuel economy on record. The average real-world CO2 emissions dropped by 10 g/mile to 337 g/mile, while fuel economy increased by 0.6 mpg to an average of 26 mpg. This marks the largest annual improvement in nearly a decade.
Since 2004, there has been a 27 percent decrease in passenger fleet emissions and a 35 percent increase in fuel economy. Preliminary data suggests that model-year 2023 will continue this positive trend. The report indicates improvements across various vehicle categories, with sedans, wagons, car SUVs, and pickup trucks reaching peak efficiency levels. However, minivans saw a rise in emissions, and a growing market trend towards heavier vehicles could pose challenges.
Korean automakers lead in efficiency, with notable improvements from Toyota and declines from Mazda. Despite this progress, the EPA expresses concern over the increasing size and weight of vehicles due to consumer preferences and safety enhancements, which may impact future emission trends.
…And the data is good: record-low carbon emissions and record-high fuel economy, and the biggest improvement year on year for almost a decade….
Source: EVs and hybrids had a noticeable effect on US fuel consumption, says EPA | Ars Technica