Slide 12 of 30
- Average horsepower of cars and light trucks decreased from 137 horsepower in 1975 to a low of 102 in the 1981/82 period, then rose 63 percent by 1996. (Light trucks includes minivans, sport utility vehicles and small pickup trucks.)
- New car efficiency standards became effective in 1978, stimulating development of smaller cars, more efficient engines and improvements in major vehicle components-all of which contributed to improved fuel efficiency. With such changes, efficiency standards were achieved with progressively higher powered cars.
- Since 1982, the average horsepower of new vehicles has increased steadily, even as sales for high-powered cars and light trucks dominate the sales for lower horsepower. Meanwhile, corporate average fleet efficiencies continue to meet the standard of 27.5 mpg for passenger cars.
Source: Environmental Protection Agency, Light-Duty Automotive Technology and Fuel Economy Trends Through 1996, EPA/AA/TDSG/96-01, (Ann Arbor, MI-August 1996), Table 1.
