The EPA is considering milage testing in hot and cold temperatures, faster acceleration, speeds above 55mph.

MSNBC Story

 

Hi Chuck;

Thanks for the heads up on the EPA article update. Very interesting I think. Should make a big difference when they put the new testing standards into place.

Regards;

Terry

 

bout time

 

I love how they still don't have any idea how fast we drive. "The national speed limit is no longer 55 mph, and many states now allow drivers to go 70 mph." The speed limit is 75 in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas (daytime), and probably many others with true speeds often exceding 75mph anyway. Still, it's a step in the right direction.

 

I had reason to drive fast the other day. It was the middle of the night, and it would have been safe to speed on the highway.

I found it difficult to go more than 5 mph over the limit. My foot rebelled.

 

At least it will be "less wrong" with some of those changes.

 

This should shake up the CAFE results when it goes into effect because they are based on the same tests. GM might have to get all kinds of concessions since it's doing so poorly, Chrysler not doing too good either, Ford at least trying, but not far behind.

 

I read articles like this, but know that GM, Ford, and Chrysler will fight it every way possible.

Getting the EPA estimates a lot closer to real world conditions would encourage automakers to make vehicles most fuel efficient for the way most people drive. I can see the GreenHybrid reactions now - it may degrade hypermiling....

 

There has already been one EPA 'revision' to better mimic so called real world conditions. The fudged testing results are put on the sticker, BUT, CAFE compliance continues to be based on the original data results.

No additional regulatory pressure will be put on manufacturers to improve FE, as a result of lowered MPG estimates on the sticker. Now, whether the consumer will change their buying habits based on stickers that show horrible FE, is an interesting question.

My guess is, people will fight to buy last years' cars, which have better FE

 

Great article, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...111802432.html
It's amazing how it takes them almost 30 yrs to change their testing standards. My husband has taken products to UL for testing for his company and you do NOT want to know how antiquated and ridiculous their tests are. Their techs don't know a volt from a waffle and just follow step-by-step instructions, no thinking required and the tests make no sense with today's electronics. Very similar with the EPA apparently.

I especially like the quote "David Champion, director of automobile testing at Consumer Reports, said the EPA's numbers can differ from actual mileage by 50 percent and sometimes more. He also said automakers have learned how to optimize their vehicles to do well in EPA tests."

I also didn't realize the EPA really doesn't do much auto testing (only 10%) but instead relies on the manufacturers to report their own testing results (based on guidelines provided by EPA).

"The EPA does not test vehicles for fuel economy. Instead, it issues guidelines that automakers use to test their own vehicles. Agency officials said the EPA audits 10 percent of the tested vehicles for accuracy."