US fuel economy hits record high in October

US fuel economy hits record high in October

Fuel economy of all new vehicles sold in the United States hit an all-time high last month, according to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI).

Average fuel economy of new vehicles was 24.1 mpg, up from 23.8 in September. When UMTRI started tracking fuel economy in October 2007, it was 20.1 mpg.

The improvement in fuel economy in the past five years corresponds to a 17 percent reduction in fuel consumption per distance driven, says UMTRI research professor Michael Sivak.

He and colleague Brandon Schoettle have also created a national Eco-Driving Index, which estimates the average monthly emissions generated by an individual U.S. driver. It takes into account both fuel economy and distance driven, and is down 19 percent since October 2007.

The UMTRI study adjusted for revised CAFE figures by Kia and Hyundai, which admitted last week to overstating the mileage of 13 models after an EPA audit uncovered the discrepancy. EPA could audit other automakers, reports TheDetroitBureau.com.