US vehicles set fuel economy record in 2022 as EV sales up
WASHINGTON — US new vehicles set a record high for fuel economy in 2022, with the biggest yearly improvement in nine years to an average of 26 miles per gallon (mpg) as electric vehicle (EV) sales jumped but the Detroit Three automakers continued to lag rivals.
Vehicles were up 0.6 mpg over 2021 after being unchanged versus 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said, noting electric vehicles and plugin hybrid electric vehicles improved the average fuel economy by 1.2 mpg in 2022. Fuel economy is forecast to increase to 26.9 mpg in 2023, the EPA said.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the report “highlights the historic progress made so far by the industry to reduce climate pollution and other harmful emissions.”
The report showed Tesla sold additional emissions credits and General Motors (GM) and Mercedes-Benz purchased credits in 2022. Automakers use credits to meet requirements.
Stellantis had the lowest fuel economy of major automakers, followed by GM and Ford while Tesla is the most efficient followed
“Automakers are lagging in their efforts to clean up conventional gasoline vehicles, which are still the vast majority of new vehicles sold and will be on the road for years to come,” Mr. Cooke said.
The EPA in April, proposed sweeping emissions cuts for new vehicles through 2032, including a 56% reduction in projected fleet average emissions over 2026 requirements that it says would result in 67% of new vehicles by 2032 being electric.
Dan Becker, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Safe Climate Transport Campaign, said EPA should finalize even tougher rules, while automakers and the United Auto Workers union want the EPA to soften its proposal set to be finalized. —