Auto-mileage labels to get climate revamp

EPA and the Transportation Department are floating what they call the biggest overhaul of auto fuel economy labels in three decades by including greenhouse gas information and making other changes to keep pace with technologies like electric vehicles.

The agencies jointly offered two options for comment Monday, including one that would give each vehicle a letter grade of A+ though D (apparently no guzzler would flunk outright).

{mosads}One aim of the new labels – which the agencies hope to have in use for many model year 2012 vehicles – is providing better showroom comparisons between models on pollution and mileage.

The new proposed labels provide data on carbon emissions per mile, and emissions of other air pollutants linked to haze and smog. For all the emissions, the labels would tell shoppers where they fall on the spectrum of vehicles on the market.

They offer somewhat more detailed mileage information than the current stickers by providing a comparison both within class (say, SUVs) and among all labeled vehicles.

“We are asking the American people to tell us what they need to make the best economic and environmental decisions when buying a new car,” said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson in a statement Monday. 

“New fuel economy labels will keep pace with the new generation of fuel efficient cars and trucks rolling off the line, and provide simple, straightforward updates to inform consumers about their choices in a rapidly changing market. We want to help buyers find vehicles that meet their needs, keep the air clean and save them money at the pump,” she added.

The option with the letter grade would add to the information available on expected fuel costs by providing a comparison to the average gas-powered vehicle for that year.

In addition, the agencies note that for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, they are “proposing to show energy use by translating electricity consumption into miles per gallon equivalent. The proposed label designs for EVs also include energy use expressed in terms of kilowatt-hours per 100 miles.”