U.S. Agency to Change Fuel Mileage Rating System

According to SEMA (Specialty Equipment Marketing Association), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has agreed to reconsider how it calculates the fuel economy of cars and light trucks. At issue is the methodology the EPA has used since 1985 to distinguish between highway and city driving. Critics note that the models favor highway driving and do not accurately reflect real-world driving conditions such as air conditioning usage and driving patterns. Modification would likely reduce the fuel efficiency ratings that are found on new-car labels. If the numbers were revised downward, they could also impact the ratings calculated in a separate National Highway Traffic Safety Administration program that establishes Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for automobiles.