U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Office
Fact #174: July 16, 2001
Potential Benefits of Alternative Future On-Road MPG Gains in Light Vehicles in 2010
According to Energy Information Administration (EIA) projections, light vehicles (light-duty cars and trucks) will use 9.7 million barrels per day and have an on-road fleet of 20.9 miles per gallon in 2010 (Annual Energy Outlook 2001 with Projections to 2020, p. 138).
The on-road mpg gain in light vehicles from 1976 to 1986 was 3.6 mpg. In the decade that followed (1986 to 1996) the on-road mpg gain was 3.2 mpg. In 2010, a 5% mpg gain over the projected the on-road fleet of 20.9 mpg would result in 1 mpg gain on-road. This, in turn, would save 4.8% of fuel, or 0.5 million barrels per day. Below is a table of potential on-road mpg gains and the associated fuel savings in light vehicles in 2010.
MPG Gain
On-Road |
% MPG
Gain |
% Fuel
Saved |
Fuel Saved
(million bpd) |
| 1.0 |
5 |
4.8 |
0.5 |
| 2.1 |
10 |
9.1 |
0.9 |
| 3.1 |
15 |
13.0 |
1.3 |
| 4.2 |
20 |
16.7 |
1.6 |
| 5.2 |
25 |
20.0 |
1.9 |
| 6.3 |
30 |
23.1 |
2.2 |
| 7.3 |
35 |
25.9 |
2.5 |
| 8.4 |
40 |
28.6 |
2.8 |
| 9.4 |
45 |
31.0 |
3.0 |
| 10.5 |
50 |
33.3 |
3.2 |
|
Sources: P.D. Patterson, Quarterly Analytic Review, April 12, 2001.
Data Source: Annual Energy Outlook 2001 With Projections to 2020, DOE/ EIA - 0383 (2001), December 2000.
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