Did you ever wonder why you would buy a vehicle that the EPA said gets 25 miles per gallon, but the best you could get driving it was about 21 miles per gallon [or less]? I think we've all had this experience.
The EPA itself admits that in normal driving conditions, most cars will get 8-12% fewer miles per gallon than the EPA estimate on the price sticker. Edmunds.com, an auto information website, believes the figure is closer to 14%.
That's because the EPA has not been testing cars under normal driving conditions. The current EPA test, which has been the same since 1984, does very little stop-and-go driving, does not include rapid acceleration, does not turn on the air conditioner, and tests in a 70 degree enviornment. There is no way the normal driver can meet all of these conditions.
Fortunately, the EPA is preparing itself to test cars and light trucks under more normal conditions. This will start with the 2008 models that will come out next year. Surprisingly enough, both enviormental groups and carmakers agree that the new testing will be better for everyone, especially the consumer.
The new EPA test will do more high-speed driving, use the air conditioner part of the time, include rapid acceleration, use more stop-and-go driving, and test partly in 20 degree cold. This new test should produce a more realistic mpg number, one that the consumer can actually attain in normal driving.
I have to wonder if Bush knows about the new test. It's not like his administration to do something that makes sense, and will actually help the consumer. I hope no one tells him about it. We could use a little truth in the marketplace.
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