WHY CONSIDER FUEL ECONOMY?
You could save $200 to $1,500 in fuel costs each year by choosing
the most fuel-efficient vehicle in a particular class. This can add
up to thousands over a vehicle‚s lifetime. Fuel-efficient models
come in all shapes and sizes, so you need not sacrifice utility or size. Each
vehicle listing in the Fuel Economy Guide provides an estimated annual fuel
cost. The online guide at
www.fueleconomy.gov features an annual fuel cost calculator
that allows you to insert your local gasoline prices and typical
driving conditions (city and highway) to achieve the most accurate
fuel cost information for your vehicle.
Strengthens National Energy Security
Buying a more fuel efficient vehicle can help strengthen our national energy security by reducing
our dependence on foreign oil. More than half of the oil used to produce the gasoline you put in
your tank is imported. The United States uses about 20 million barrels of oil per day, two-thirds
of which is used for transportation. Petroleum imports cost us about $4.4 billion a week - that‚s
money that could be used to fuel our own economy.
Protects the Environment
Burning fossil fuels such as gasoline and diesel adds greenhouse
gases, mostly carbon dioxide (CO2), to the Earth‚s atmosphere.
Large-scale increases in greenhouse gases in the Earth's
atmosphere can lead to global climate change.
Vehicles with lower fuel economy burn more fuel, creating more
CO2. Your vehicle creates about 20 pounds of CO2 (170 cu. ft.)
per gallon of gasoline it consumes. Therefore, you can reduce
your contribution to global climate change by choosing a vehicle
with higher fuel economy.
By choosing a vehicle that achieves 25 miles per gallon
rather than 20, you can prevent the release of about 17 tons
(260,000 cu. ft.) of greenhouse gases over the lifetime of your
Other Automobile Fuel Efficiency Links
TIPS - Tips for improving car fuel economy and gas mileage
OPTIONS - Car Fueling Options - Premium, Regular, Ethanol, Biodiesel
TAXES - Automobile Gas Fuel Efficiency Tax Incentives and Disincentives - Credits and Deductions
WHY - Why Consider Fuel Economy