Fuel financial system for 2021 mannequin 12 months autos within the U.S. remained flat in comparison with 2020, as folks continued to purchase less-efficient vehicles and SUVs, in keeping with an annual authorities report printed Monday.
The fleet of latest autos bought 25.4 miles per gallon (10.8 kilometers per liter) for the mannequin 12 months, whereas greenhouse gasoline emissions dropped by 2 grams per mile to a report low of 347, the Environmental Protection Agency mentioned in its annual Automotive Trends Report. The 2021 gas financial system determine ties a report set in mannequin 12 months 2020.
The efficiency got here underneath gas financial system and emissions requirements that have been relaxed when Donald Trump was president. Requirements will begin to enhance at a better charge in 2026 underneath requirements adopted by the Biden administration.
The EPA mentioned in an announcement that every one car varieties are at report low carbon dioxide emissions, however “the market shift away from cars and toward sport utility vehicles and pickups has offset some of the fleetwide benefits.”
In the 2021 mannequin 12 months, automobiles and station wagons, probably the most environment friendly autos, fell to 26% of U.S. new car manufacturing, properly beneath the 50% market share as not too long ago as 2013, the EPA mentioned. SUVs have been a report 45% of latest car gross sales for the 2021 mannequin 12 months, whereas pickup vehicles hit 16%.
Stellantis, the previous Fiat Chrysler, had the bottom gas financial system and the very best emissions of all producers at 21.3 mpg (9.1 kilometers per liter) and 417 grams per mile of carbon dioxide. Tesla, which makes solely electrical autos, had the very best mileage equal at 121.5 mpg (51.7 kilometers per liter), and nil carbon dioxide emissions.
Nine producers have been above their EPA carbon dioxide emissions commonplace: BMW, Volkswagen, Kia, Nissan, Hyundai, General Motors, Mazda, Stellantis and Mercedes. Five have been beneath their requirements, that means they emitted lower than allowed: Tesla, Subaru, Ford, Honda and Toyota. Automakers can meet the requirements with credit they accrued or purchased from different producers.
The EPA mentioned that because the 2004 mannequin 12 months, common gas financial system within the U.S. is up 6.1 miles per gallon (2.6 kilometers per liter), or 32%.
It mentioned that gas-electric hybrid manufacturing reached a brand new excessive of 9% of all autos within the 2021 mannequin 12 months. whereas electrical, plug-in hybrid and gas cell autos have been 4% of nationwide manufacturing.