Improving the Fuel Economy of Any Car

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) has just released a report on how decisions a driver makes beyond vehicle selection can improve vehicle fuel economy by up to 45 percent. Drivers can find the information they need to make many of these fuel-efficient decisions at Fuel Economy Information, the official U.S. government source for fuel economy information.

The UMTRI report, Eco-Driving: Strategic, Tactical, and Operational Decisions of the Driver that Improve Vehicle Fuel Economy, examines the effects of three types of driver decisions: strategic (vehicle selection and maintenance), tactical (route selection and vehicle load), and operational (driver behavior). The report concludes that vehicle selection is by far the most important decision a driver can make, but that the other decisions combined can contribute to significant fuel economy improvements.

To help drivers select the most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets their needs, Fuel Economy provides EPA fuel economy estimates for all cars and light duty trucks sold in the United States since 1985. The site's "Your MPG" section (Real Life MPG) lets you compare the real-world MPG numbers reported by the drivers of various vehicles with the EPA estimates.

The "Keeping Your Car in Shape" section (Maintaining Your Vehicle) can help with vehicle maintenance decisions such as keeping your engine properly tuned and your tires properly inflated and using the recommended grade of motor oil.