Hybrid Cars' Fantasy Mileage Ratings Drive Into the Sunset
John Gartner Email 05.14.07 | 2:00 AM

Hybrid car economics will face a new road test this month with the arrival of fresh models sporting revised mileage ratings from the Environmental Protection Agency.

This report provides data on the fuel economy and technology characteristics of new light-duty vehicles (cars, vans, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), and pickup trucks) for model years 1975 through 2006. Since 1992 average fuel economy has been relatively constant, ranging from 20.6 to 21.4 miles per gallon (mpg). Based on sales projections provided by automotive manufacturers to EPA, model year 2006 vehicles are estimated to average 21.0 mpg, the same as last year, but five percent below the fleet-average fuel economy peak value of 22.1 mpg achieved in 1987. After two decades of steady growth, the light truck market share has been relatively stable for five years.