Fuel Efficiency: America’s Generational Leap

Just wanted to pass along some quick thoughts on recent New York Times article that really missed the big picture on America’s fuel efficiency gains.

You can’t look at 2012 vehicles through a 2002 lens. “Efficient” no longer just means hybrid or electric – it means the new base models themselves are now much more efficient than the older vehicles they’re replacing. Every new vehicle – efficient conventional engines, hybrid, or electric – will save drivers big against an older, less efficient model.

New fuel economy standards and the burst of automotive innovation coming with them are bringing dramatically improved efficiency and fuel savings to all types of vehicles at all types of price points. The auto industry’s renaissance is bringing not just savings at the pump, but less dependence on the oil that puts us at risk of spills, pollutes our air, worsens climate change, and weakens America’s energy security.

From commuters to sportsmen looking to save on their next trip to the lake, many consumers are judging that these new benefits are worth it.