Americans bought trucks and SUVs at a rapid clip through 2019, and it showed. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average fuel economy of new cars on U.S. roads fell by 0.2 percent that year, to an average of 24.9 mpg.
We’re all growing accustomed to stories summing up 2020, but the EPA report is just getting around to reporting 2019 figures. Overall fuel economy tends to show steady improvement. But the new numbers reveal just the third drop in fuel efficiency in 15 years.
Automakers must reach certain targets with the cars they offer for sale but can bank credits toward future years, and those that outperform the requirements can sell credits to those that don’t. For 2019, the EPA says, most manufacturers relied on banked credits. At the two extremes sit Tesla, which sold the most, and Fiat-Chrysler, which bought the most.
The numbers are expected to look better for 2020, and even better for 2021. Automakers are steadily improving the fuel economy of the full-size trucks and SUVs Americans tend to buy, and introducing more electric vehicle options.
