PASSENGER CAR AND LIGHT TRUCK FUEL ECONOMY TRENDS THROUGH 1980

The 4000-mi. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel economy figures are presented for passenger cars from pre-emission control models through 1980, for light trucks from 1975 through 1980, and for motorcycles for 1980 (first EPA listing of motorcycles). The data include stratification by weight class, vehicle size class, manufacturer, and mpg range; domestic vs. import, gasoline vs. diesel, and 49-states vs. California models. Passenger car fleet mpg in 1980 is up 11% from 1979, due to a shift in the inertia weight mix, followed by system optimization. The 1980 diesel car fleet average (28.6 mpg) is 29% higher than that for 1980 gasoline cars (22.2 mpg). Even with 6000 to 8500 lb. trucks added to the 1980 data base, sales-weighted combined car/truck fleet mpg is up from 1979, and average weight and engine displacement are down. The 1980 light truck fleet mpg average is 17.1 mpg, compared to 17.5 mpg in 1979 without the heavier trucks. Average EPA city mpg for the 1980 motorcycle fleet is 54 mpg (excluding motorcycles with engines less than 50 cc., those for off-road use, and cycles with low sales volume).

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at SAE Passenger Car Meeting, Dearborn, Michigan, 9-13 June 1980.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Murrell, J D
  • Foster, J A
  • Bristor, D M
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 96 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Fuel consumption; Light trucks; Motorcycles
• Subject Areas: Energy; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00376863
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE-800853, HS-030 008
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 30 1983 12:00AM