The EPA is considering a new fuel economy sticker for new cars and trucks sold in the US that gives consumers more information about their new car’s environmental impact, and they’ve posted an interactive “walk-through”on the EPA website.
More about the new stickers, and why they will spark insane shouting matches, after the jump.
The new labels have been designed to better incorporate new vehicle types, like plug-ins and alt-fuel cars, that many feel can’t be properly represented with the current label.
In addition to providing average fuel economy numbers, the new label would add CO2 and other specific emission information, as well as projected fuel cost savings for hybrid models when compared to conventional versions of similar cars.
More information and an educated customer base is always good news. Here, however, is where the problem lies… what information is relevant information? I can think of a few major problems right off the bat:
- Emissions and fuel economy are only 2 indicators of environmental responsibility… what about the percentage of recycled materials used in a car’s construction or the overall impact of the car’s construction to begin with? That seems like good information.
- Will the EPA “fuel savings” estimate adjust for the fact that most hybrids cost more than their conventional siblings? Example: if there is a $3,000 price premium for the hybrid, and the fuel savings work out to $2000 over “x” period of time, will the EPA sticker show “-$1000″ as the “fuel savings” number?
- What about organically-grown soy vs. conventionally grown soy? Many car-makers use soy products in their cars (Ford, especially – this article is just one example of the company’s dedication to soy-based products) will they get “extra bonus points” towards an “A” letter grade if they use organically-grown soy?
- How objective will letter grades be? If they are done objectively, regardless of a car’s “class”, then cars like Corvettes and Vipers will score poorly, but if the only other car in the Viper’s “class” (according to the EPA, which has always been weird about such things) is the Corvette getting an A compared to the Viper’s F?
- Can you get an A for effort if the car features some innovative new tech being sold at a loss (like the Volt or 1st Gen Prius)?
Those questions (above) came to me as I typed them, and I am sure there are a dozen or so other good questions that will be lobbied for or against by the car-makers and activists… but, there is hope for some sanity: you can head over to epa.gov/fueleconomy and tell the EPA what you think, directly.
SO, speak now – or forever hold your peace complain and moan in the comments section.
SOURCE: EPA.
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About Jo Borras
Well, to me it seems that you are trying to overreach on this…
The objective of this sticker (to my understanding) is to give you information about how fuel efficient the vehicle is…
In Europe we use exactly the same classification for refrigerators, and with great results…A letter system helps people to make easy choices…If you want to decide between two vehicles with the classification, you can always get more detail information…
There is, however, one point where I think you are right…If a vehicle can use more than one type of fuel, then it should have more than one sticker…As many stickers as types of fuel the car can use…
Well, to me it seems that you are trying to overreach on this…
The objective of this sticker (to my understanding) is to give you information about how fuel efficient the vehicle is…
In Europe we use exactly the same classification for refrigerators, and with great results…A letter system helps people to make easy choices…If you want to decide between two vehicles with the classification, you can always get more detail information…
There is, however, one point where I think you are right…If a vehicle can use more than one type of fuel, then it should have more than one sticker…As many stickers as types of fuel the car can use…
The sticker should have nothing to do with the vehicle’s construction, gadgets or CO2 reduction. Let those be part of the sales pitch. The sticker should refer ONLY to it’s purpose – fuel efficiency. If it compares similar makes and models, that’s fine, but that’s where the line needs drawn. Anything else makes the purchase more confusing.
Which plays right into the hands of the big 3. Hmmm? I wonder who instigated the EPA to consider this new “branding” of vehicles?
The sticker should have nothing to do with the vehicle’s construction, gadgets or CO2 reduction. Let those be part of the sales pitch. The sticker should refer ONLY to it’s purpose – fuel efficiency. If it compares similar makes and models, that’s fine, but that’s where the line needs drawn. Anything else makes the purchase more confusing.
Which plays right into the hands of the big 3. Hmmm? I wonder who instigated the EPA to consider this new “branding” of vehicles?
Hugo, a refrigerator is very different from a car – and, especially in the US – there are many who would seek to demonize cars to the point that there is real concern that some kinds of cars will be outlawed, in some circles.
Douglas, I agree completely.
Hugo, a refrigerator is very different from a car – and, especially in the US – there are many who would seek to demonize cars to the point that there is real concern that some kinds of cars will be outlawed, in some circles.
Douglas, I agree completely.
Hugo, a refrigerator is very different from a car – and, especially in the US – there are many who would seek to demonize cars to the point that there is real concern that some kinds of cars will be outlawed, in some circles.
Douglas, I agree completely.
EPA Sticker to grades your car… what will they think of next?
EPA Sticker to grades your car… what will they think of next?
EPA Sticker to grades your car… what will they think of next?
This is a perfect nanny state solution. It is so simple even us dummies who didn’t go to Harvard will know what our elites want us to buy. I wonder how Jesse Jackson’s Cadillac Escalade rates? Maybe they could do the same thing for private jets to help hypocrites like Al Gore and Leonardo DeCaprio get the right one.
This is a perfect nanny state solution. It is so simple even us dummies who didn’t go to Harvard will know what our elites want us to buy. I wonder how Jesse Jackson’s Cadillac Escalade rates? Maybe they could do the same thing for private jets to help hypocrites like Al Gore and Leonardo DeCaprio get the right one.
This is a perfect nanny state solution. It is so simple even us dummies who didn’t go to Harvard will know what our elites want us to buy. I wonder how Jesse Jackson’s Cadillac Escalade rates? Maybe they could do the same thing for private jets to help hypocrites like Al Gore and Leonardo DeCaprio get the right one.