- Automobile consumers proceed to prioritize gasoline economic system, in line with the newest survey from Client Experiences
- 96% of respondents mentioned gasoline economic system was at the least considerably vital when contemplating what car to buy
- Respondents consider the burden is on automakers extra so than the federal government to extend gasoline economic system
A majority of Individuals help stricter gasoline economic system rules, in line with a brand new Client Experiences survey.
For this survey, Client Experiences requested 2,191 American adults concerning the significance of higher fuel mileage between August and September 2024. Of that pattern, 91% drove internal-combustion automobiles—and appeared keenly conscious of the environmental and financial impression of burning fossil fuels.
The overwhelming majority of survey respondents—96%—mentioned gasoline economic system was at the least considerably vital when contemplating what car to buy or lease, whereas 66% mentioned it was “crucial” or “extraordinarily vital.” Simply 4% mentioned it was unimportant.
2025 Toyota Prius
Gasoline economic system was the commonest attribute respondents pointed to as having room for enchancment in new automobiles, one thing that is been constant throughout eight nationally consultant surveys carried out by Client Experiences over 9 years. That perspective was additionally bipartisan, with majorities of each Democrats and Republicans saying automakers ought to proceed to enhance gasoline economic system.
Such enhancements must also be federally-mandated, respondents mentioned, with 64% saying the federal government ought to proceed to extend fuel-economy requirements. That is maybe as a result of the shopping for public does not belief automakers to enhance effectivity on their very own. Simply 27% agreed that automakers care about reducing gasoline prices.
And whereas many Individuals would think about paying extra up entrance for a hybrid if the additional value was made up in gasoline financial savings over the course of possession, they represented a a lot slimmer majority of 52%.
Automobile lifetime gasoline financial savings since 2001 (by way of Client Experiences)
Steadily-increasing fuel-economy requirements have already delivered vital financial savings no matter what automobiles Individuals are shopping for, although. In a separate evaluation, Client Experiences discovered that, taken collectively, more durable requirements have delivered gasoline financial savings of over $9,000 in comparison with automobiles from 2001. An further $6,000 in financial savings could possibly be achieved by the 2029 mannequin yr, if present requirements stay in place, Client Experiences famous.
An replace to Company Common Gasoline Financial system (CAFE) requirements confirmed in 2024 covers mannequin years 2027-2031, and requires fuel-economy enhancements of simply 2% for passenger automobiles and a couple of% for mild vans throughout these mannequin yr. The EPA estimates that its corresponding guidelines would require 56% EVs by 2032, plus a further 13% plug-in hybrids. That is a slower rollout than the 67% EV share initially proposed.
Even these small enhancements might come underneath menace by an incoming Trump administration that favors Large Oil over lowering emissions. However as Client Experiences factors out, such insurance policies might additionally cheat voters out of financial savings on the pump.
