Energy Efficiency Fact Sheet

This 2006 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines technologies and maintenance practices to improve fuel efficiency in passenger vehicles and light trucks, noting a decline in average US fuel economy since 1987.

• US automotive fuel economy peaked at 22.1 miles per gallon (mpg) in 1987 and fell to approximately 21 mpg by 2005. This decline is attributed to increased annual mileage, higher horsepower, and a shift toward sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and light trucks, the latter of which made up 50 percent of vehicle sales for the 2005 model year.
• Various advanced technologies can significantly increase fuel efficiency: aerodynamics can reduce drag (with the Toyota Prius at 0.26 Cd compared to the H2 Hummer's 0.57 Cd), advanced tires can save 1.5 to 4.5 percent of gasoline consumption, and weight reduction can improve fuel economy by 7 percent for every 10 percent of weight eliminated. Hybrid drivetrains can double the efficiency of conventional vehicles, while Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEV’s) have reached efficiencies of 250mpg.
• Routine vehicle maintenance offers substantial fuel savings: replacing a clogged air filter can improve mileage by up to 10 percent, and fixing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve it by as much as 40 percent. Maintaining proper tire pressure can improve economy by over 3 percent, leading the US federal government to mandate in-car tire pressure monitors for all vehicles sold after 2008.
• The benefits of increased fuel efficiency include reduced dependence on foreign oil, lower consumer costs, and decreased emissions of carbon dioxide and pollutants that cause acid rain and smog. While manufacturers face fixed costs for R&D and re-tooling, some consumer costs for hybrid vehicles are partially offset by tax rebates from the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2006). Energy Efficiency Fact Sheet. https://www.eesi.org/files/auto_efficiency_0506.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Energy Efficiency Fact Sheet. 2006. https://www.eesi.org/files/auto_efficiency_0506.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Energy Efficiency Fact Sheet |date=May 2006 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/auto_efficiency_0506.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2006energy, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Energy Efficiency Fact Sheet}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2006}, month = may, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/auto_efficiency_0506.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }