New EPA Mileage Estimates

[Cuda340]

The EPA recently revised its methods for estimating 2008 vehicle fuel economy to better represent current driving styles and conditions. The new methods are based on:

• Colder Outside Temperatures
• Wind Resistance
• Road Surface Resistance
• Faster Speeds and Acceleration
• Air Conditioner Use

As expected, the mileage of the 6.1 Charger SRT went down from 14 City, 20 Hwy. and 16 Combined to 13 City, 18 Hwy. and 15 Combined.

Unless the EPA formula is adjusted, the gas guzzler tax will increase from $2,100 to $3,000!

The web site address is: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calculatorSelectYear.jsp

[JustACelt]

The EPA obviously doesnt believe in global warming...., crowded roads (harder to accelerate and drive at a faster speed especially when every other vehicle on the road is a mini van) wait air conditioning use??????? More air conditioning use due to global warming......Our EPA how typically government

[sniper226]

That is an interesting fact website and it is about time they have done something that is more realistic. I question if it is really close to real world now though.

Consumer Reports did an analysis recently to see how the Gov rated MPG stacked up to their real world tests. The 300C was one that was grossly overrated MPG. Here are the results for that car.


Vehicle Type Make & Model City MPG
EPA
mpg CR
mpg EPA
shortfallarge sedan
EPA CR Shortfall
MPG MPG %
Chrysler 300 C 17 10 41

Note:
Big differences between claimed and actual city mpg were the main reason for the discrepancy in overall mpg. Our city mpg figures ranged from 13 percent better than the EPA sticker to 50 percent worse. On average, our highway mpg more closely reflected the EPA rating.

Their test is described as:

City mpg Our tests. These tests are stop-and-go city-driving simulations on our test track, which has a total of 18 stops and 4 minutes of total idle time. Top speed is 40 mph. Two different testers each drive three runs for a total of six 2-minute, 40-second trials on every test vehicle. Total test time is approximately 16 minutes.
Government tests. The city test simulates stop-and-go city driving with 23 stops and includes 5 minutes and 35 seconds of total idle time. Top speed is 56 mph. A professional driver manipulates the gas and brake pedals to follow a prescribed schedule of acceleration and braking while monitoring progress on a real-time graph on a computer display. The test runs for 31 minutes.


Highway mpg
Our tests. The highway tests are run on a specific section of state Route 2 near our test facility in central Connecticut. Two testers make eight 5-mile runs at a constant 65 mph. The tests are run in both directions to limit the effects of wind and grade differences. Each run is timed and limited to 4 minutes, 38 seconds. Total test time is approximately 37 minutes.
Government tests. These tests simulate free-flow rural and interstate-highway driving. The professional driver starts from zero, maintains a fairly smooth speed averaging 48 mph, then slows to zero over a prescribed 12-minute, 30-second schedule. While under way, speeds range from 30 to 60 mph.

There is more detail but I don't want to get into copyright issues...

And I agree, I hope they adjust the gas guzzler figures accordingly. It's only fair. One other note, I live in TX and it appears the majority of the vehicles on the road are Pickups/SUVs around here. This is how I justify getting a gas guzzler Challenger. I have been driving a car that gets 18-19 MPG for almost 10 years. So instead of an SUV, I am getting a Challenger!

[Ragamuffin]

Yep, a story came out some months ago that said the EPA estimates are incorrect. I vaguely remember reading [probably the window label] that these #'s are only estimates and that diifferences will occur depending on the driver including all other reasons as stated above. Heck , maybe someone at the EPA was doing us all a favor so in effect we wouldn't have to pay as high a guzzler tax ! !