EPA Mileage Report Highlights Need for EVs to Meet Biden’s Goals
- EPA report shows modest gains in fleetwide average in 2020
- Report points to need for EVs to meet Biden’s ambitious target
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s calculation of modest gains in carmakers’ fuel economy last year spotlight the need for a rapid increase in electric vehicles if the industry is to meet proposed targets.
The EPA reported Friday that carmakers achieved an average of 25.4 miles (40.9 kilometers) per gallon for vehicles made during the 2020 model year. That is 0.5 mpg higher than the 2019 model year and a record high, but far from the 52 mpg by 2026 that President Joe Biden’s administration has proposed, which equates to roughly 41 mpg in real-world driving conditions that typically account for about a 20% drop in fuel economy from EPA’s ratings.