New car labels feature more on fuel savings

A row of new 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles sit for sale in the car lot at the Toyota dealership in El Cajon, California March 9, 2010.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fuel economy labeling unveiled on Wednesday includes information on plug-in electric cars and highlights other advanced technologies aimed at reducing oil use and tailpipe emissions.

The redesigned window stickers required on all 2013 models will allow consumers in showrooms to quickly and more easily compare fuel savings of vehicles in the same or different class, whether they rely on gasoline or are powered by gas/electric hybrid systems.

"Today's car buyers want the best possible information about which cars on the lot offer the greatest fuel economy and the best environmental performance," said Lisa Jackson, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA developed new labels with the Transportation Department as part of rules adopted last year requiring a 42 percent jump in average efficiency to 35.5 miles per gallon for 2012-2016 vehicles.

The agencies plan a follow-on requirement in September for 2017-2025 cars and trucks that could push efficiency goals to 60 mpg, a target automakers would probably resist if proposed.

Automakers, who supported the new labels, are overhauling their product lines to meet U.S. government and consumer demands that they offer more efficiency and reduce pollution.

U.S. passenger vehicles account for about 20 percent of the nation's carbon emissions and about 44 percent of its oil consumption, figures show.

Many cars on the road today already meet or exceed the 2016 standard. U.S. and overseas car companies are accelerating output of hybrids and are beginning to introduce vehicles that run only on electricity for everyday driving.

The EPA labels, which were required by Congress, allow consumers to compare cost advantages of different technologies and for the first time include information on electric cars.

For instance, they post estimates of how much fuel or electricity it takes to drive 100 miles, and how much time it takes to charge a plug-in vehicle, like the mainly electric Chevrolet Volt sedan made by General Motors Co or the all-electric Nissan Leaf.

The most fuel-efficient cars and trucks, however, still represent a fraction of overall U.S. vehicle sales. Less fuel-efficient and more powerful pickups and sport utilities remain enormously popular with American motorists.

(Reporting by John Crawley; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)