After adjusting the average for changes in the rating for Hyundai/Kia vehicles, the average fuel economy of new vehicles sold in the U.S. in October was 24.1 miles per gallon - the highest level yet, and up 4 mpg from October 2007 when the survey began., according to the Univerity of Michigan Transportation Research Institute in Ann Arbor.  This 20 percent  improvement in fuel economy  corresponds to a 17 percent  reduction in fuel consumption (gallons per mile).  For the description of the calculations and the recent mpg values, please visit http://www.umich.edu/~umtriswt/EDI_sales-weighted-mpg.html.

 

The University of Michigan Eco-Driving Index (EDI)--an index that estimates the average monthly emissions of greenhouse gases generated by an individual U.S. driver--stood at 0.81 in August, an improvement of 19% since October 2007.  The EDI takes into account both vehicle fuel economy and distance driven, which utilizes the latter relying on data that are published with a two-month lag, according to U-M. By Joseph Szczesny