Statement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provided to The Press-Enterprise on May 15,

2014 about tests by Emission Analytics that found different automobile fuel efficiency results:

Attributable to U.S. EPA:

The reason why EPA label ratings are different than those from these other tests is simply that these

other tests are different than the ones used to determine EPA label values. There is no “perfect answer”

to what mileage consumers will get with any particular vehicle as mileage will differ based on driver

behavior, road conditions, ambient temperatures, and many, many other factors. Even during a single

trip, a vehicle may get a low mpg while accelerating or going uphill, and a much higher mpg while

traveling downhill. Person A might average 25 mpg with a certain vehicle model, and person B might

average 30 mpg with the same vehicle model based on the way they drive, the type of roads they travel

on, the weather, etc. There simply cannot be one mileage value that is correct for all drivers and

conditions.

Still, EPA fuel economy estimates are the best way to compare the fuel economy among vehicles. This is

because official fuel economy testing is controlled and repeatable, so that all those factors that can

affect fuel economy are exactly the same from one vehicle to the next. Official EPA values are also a

good reflection of the what the average U.S. driver can expect to achieve under average conditions,

because they account for a variety of real-world conditions such as high speed driving, aggressive

driving, cold temperatures, hot temperatures, and the use of air conditioning. The official fuel economy

numbers also included adjustments to reflect real world variables such as fuel containing ethanol, road

surfaces being rough and having grades, and crosswinds. As a result, many consumers today get or

actually exceed the EPA label values.

We believe current labels hit the “sweet spot” of a national average value, but we’re never complacent.

As we stay atop industry trends, we continuously examine new technologies , including advanced

hybrids, to see if there need to be updates to our procedures. We are keeping an eye on emerging

technologies, testing vehicles to see if the cases reported in the media are representative or are

anomalies. To further protect the integrity of the estimates, EPA also runs a thorough oversight program

staffed by engineering experts. EPA requires automakers to use our rigorous and repeatable tests for

the data that they provide us. Both strategically and randomly, we also directly test 150-200 vehicles

annually at our state-of-the-art lab in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and we very rarely find discrepancies.

EPA is pleased that consumers care about fuel economy and environmental impact of their vehicle and

that industry is responding. It’s impossible to tell each and every driver exactly what mpg level they will

get in every vehicle under every possible circumstance. However, when it comes to providing accurate

fuel economy estimates, EPA pledges to be at the forefront of technology and the latest testing

procedures.