Hybrid Car Review

The EPA is projecting another increase in fuel efficiency for MY 2009 vehicles. That's the fifth consecutive year in a row in which car makers and buyers have made and bought more fuel efficient cars. Although the gain from last year was small, 21.0 mpg to 21.1 mpg, the five year gain sits at 9% since 2004.

The numbers for 2008 were finalized in the report, while the numbers for 2009 are still being projected, with the authors cautioning that 2009 has been turbulent and "It is impossible to predict whether actual MY2009 fuel economy will be higher or lower than the preliminary MY2009 value."

The fuel efficiency gains (if they are realized) are coming despite the prediction that weight and performance will also be increasing from 2008, albeit slightly.

Something to keep in mind when you read the following table:

Most of the CO2 emissions and fuel economy values in this report are a single adjusted composite (combined city/highway) CO2 emissions or fuel economy value, consistent with the real-world estimates for city and highway fuel economy provided to consumers on new vehicle labels, in the EPA/DOE Fuel Economy Guide, and in EPA's Green Vehicle Guide.

MY2007 – 2009 Marketing Group Fuel Economy and Carbon Dioxide Emissions
(Adjusted Composite Values)
Marketing Group	MY2007		MY2008		MY2009
	Fuel Economy	CO2	Fuel Economy	CO2	Fuel Economy	CO2
	(mpg)	(g/mi)	(mpg)	(g/mi)	(mpg)	(g/mi)
Honda	23.3	382	23.9	372	23.6	376
Hyundai-Kia	22.9	388	23.7	374	23.4	380
Toyota	23.3	382	22.8	389	23.2	383
Volkswagen	21.9	405	22.3	398	22.8	398
Nissan	21.3	418	21.9	406	21.6	411
BMW	21.5	415	21.2	419	21.6	412
General Motors	19.2	463	19.7	452	19.9	447
Ford	18.9	471	19.4	459	20.5	434
Chrysler	18.6	479	19.3	460	18.7	476
All	20.6	432	21	424	21.1	422

One thing to keep in mind when you see such small overall gains is the upcoming changes in the CAFE rules.  Car makers are going to be pushed to increase their fuel efficiency at a high rate over the coming years.