New EPA Vehicle Rating System
October 25th, 2010
We all look at the labels on vehicle windows while shopping around for the perfect new vehicle, paying extra attention to the mpg as gas prices continue to rise. In Omaha and Lincoln, where stop-and-go city driving is limited, we tend to be more concerned with the highway mpg ratings than with anything else on the label. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) are developing new labels aimed at helping us focus on the bigger picture.
The new labels aim to help consumers compare the efficiency and environmental impact of all types of vehicles more easily than current labels. There are currently two proposed designs, and the government is looking for our help in deciding which one will be more effective in accomplishing their goals.
The first proposed label uses a letter grade to rate each vehicle’s fuel economy and its level of greenhouse gas emissions. It also lists how much money you will save over five years compared with other gasoline-powered vehicles.
The grading system ranges from A+ to D, with some vehicle classes receiving a certain letter grade across the board. For example, all electric vehicles would receive an A+, plug-in hybrids would receive an A, other hybrids, such as the Ford Fusion and the Toyota Prius would receive an A- and vehicles closest to failing with the worst emissions ratings and fuel economy would receive a D.
Not everyone is in favor of the new system. “NADA opposes changes that would confuse the buying public, make vehicle purchasing decisions more difficult or treat certain automakers or fuel types unfairly,” National Automobile Dealers Association spokesman Bailey Wood said in an Automotive News Article.
In Omaha and Lincoln’s surrounding areas, where pickup trucks and SUVs are the norm for country drivers, we could run into problems with purchasing some of our favorite vehicles. SUVs and trucks simply cannot compete as far as the emissions grading system is concerned with smaller hybrid vehicles, which are aimed to attract city drivers.
“Anything that’s not an A is bad, right? It’s misleading to the consumer,’’ said Chris Lee, owner of Lee Volvo, in a Boston Globe article. “I could be selling a customer a D, but if you’re driving mostly on the highway, it could be an A.’’
The second proposed label expands on the current miles per gallon label and adds new information on fuel consumption and emissions to help consumers better compare vehicles. It includes a gallons per 100 miles rating to make it easier for consumers to understand how much gas the vehicle actually uses. Rather than using a grading system, though, we are left to use the raw data provided to weigh the differences on our own. For vehicles where miles per gallon doesn’t apply, a miles per gallon equivalent will be provided, which shows kilowatts per 100 miles.
While many environmental groups support the new grading system labels, the NADA says they will focus on the second non-graded labels. The EPA and DOT want everyone’s opinion on the new labels, though, and are encouraging car buyers to speak up.
To voice your opinion to the EPA and DOT, visit www.Regulations.gov or email them at NewLabels@epa.gov.
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