New Fuel Economy Sticker Unveiled

It's often been said that if more people realized the ongoing cost of fueling their vehicle, they would choose more efficient rides off the lot.

Now, that theory will be tested. All cars, light trucks and SUVs produced after Sept. 1 will feature a newly re-designed window sticker that includes the estimated annual cost for fueling the vehicle, how the vehicle's fuel economy compares to others within its class, and a Web site to go to for more information.

"EPA's updated fuel economy estimates will help Americans avoid sticker shock when filling up at the pump," Stephen L. Johnson, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, said in a press statement. "By considering fuel use when shopping for new cars and trucks, consumers are in the driver's seat to save money and protect our environment."

The changes coincide with the adoption of new methods to determine the miles per gallon estimates designed to more realistically estimate the fuel economy of vehicles being sold. The stickers will consider fuel economy during real-world driving conditions, such as driving at high speeds, accelerating aggressively, using air conditioning and driving in a variety of weather conditions.

"From AAA's perspective, it is about a simple truth: consumers want to know that the information they see on a government-sanctioned label reasonably reflects what they will experience on the road," Robert Darbelnet, president and CEO of AAA, said in a press statement. "We believe that the new EPA labeling system will provide motorists a more realistic idea of their fuel performance. This is clearly a step in the right direction."

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