Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Fuel economy gains of more efficient cars undone by increased travel, decreased occupancy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/09/fuel-economy-gains-of-more-efficient-cars-undone-by-increased-tr/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/09/fuel-economy-gains-of-more-efficient-cars-undone-by-increased-tr/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/09/fuel-economy-gains-of-more-efficient-cars-undone-by-increased-tr/#commentsFiled under:

traffic

The good news is that the average fuel fuel economy of the entire US light-duty fleet improved by 40 percent over the past four decades (increasing from 13 miles per gallon to 21.6 mpg). The bad news is that Americans drive more, and with fewer passengers in each vehicle, undercutting the impact of the fuel economy gains.

That's the official conclusion of a study just released by the Sustainable Worldwide Transportation at University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). Without getting too technical, the researchers found that the "occupant fuel economy" (a figure that takes mpg and vehicle occupancy into account) dropped as vehicle loads decreased by 27 percent (from 1.9 to 1.38 persons, on average) over the years. Combine the additional distance driven, up a whopping 155 percent, and that average fuel economy improvement of 40 percent drops to an occupant fuel economy gain of just 17 percent.

So what does this all mean? Saving fuel on a grand scale is more than just bumping fuel economy on the cars in the showroom. Consumers will need to drive more efficient vehicles, but they also must drive less and learn how to carpool. Easier said than done.

Fuel economy gains of more efficient cars undone by increased travel, decreased occupancy originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 Mar 2013 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fuel economyfuel economy studygreen car congressoccupant fuel economyuniversity of michiganuniversity of michigan transportation research instituteSat, 09 Mar 2013 10:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20493154/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/09/fuel-economy-gains-of-more-efficient-cars-undone-by-increased-tr/20493154/article-detail.xml 20493154 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/traffic_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/traffic.jpg <![CDATA[Women outnumber men for first time on US roads]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/21/women-outnumber-men-for-first-time-on-us-roads/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/21/women-outnumber-men-for-first-time-on-us-roads/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/21/women-outnumber-men-for-first-time-on-us-roads/#commentsFiled under: ,

Oprah Drivers

According to a study by the University of Michigan, women now outnumber men on US roads for the first time in the country's history. Analysts at the school's Transportation Research Institute used data from driver's license statistics for their findings, and the trend may have a widespread impact on the automotive industry as a whole. The researchers predict that if the trend continues, it could affect everything from vehicle design to traffic fatalities and fuel consumption. The study concludes that women are more likely than men to purchase vehicles that are smaller, safer and more fuel efficient, and that they drive less over all than their male counterparts.

The study looked at trends in driver's licenses over the 15 year period between 1995 and 2010. Over that time, the number of men between the ages of 25 and 29 years old with licenses dropped by 10 percent, while the number of women in the same age bracket fell by only 4.7 percent. In 2010, 105.7 million women could legally drive, while only 104.3 million men could say the same. Contrast that with the 1950s, when around half of adult women could operate a motor vehicle.

Women outnumber men for first time on US roads originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Nov 2012 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dirvers licensedriversdrivers licensesmenmore women driversmore women drivers than menstudytransportation research instituteuniversity of michiganuniversity of michigan transportation research institutewomenWed, 21 Nov 2012 08:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20384475/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/21/women-outnumber-men-for-first-time-on-us-roads/20384475/article-detail.xml 20384475 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/oprah-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/oprah-628.jpg <![CDATA[IIHS says most LATCH systems are too difficult to use [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/12/iihs-says-most-latch-systems-are-too-difficult-to-use-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/12/iihs-says-most-latch-systems-are-too-difficult-to-use-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/12/iihs-says-most-latch-systems-are-too-difficult-to-use-w-video/#commentsFiled under:

IIHS says most LATCH systems are too difficult to use

If you've ever tried installing an infant car seat in say, a Jaguar XKR, you understand that just because a car has LATCH anchors doesn't mean your car seat is going to fit. Those anchors are supposed to make child restraint installation a breeze, but according to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, many automakers aren't following the spirit of the law requiring them.

The study looked at the 98 top-selling vehicles from 2010-2011 and found just 21 that met its criteria for having "easy-to-use" LATCH hardware. Making the list were the Audi A4; Cadillac Escalade; Chevrolet Equinox, Silverado, Suburban and Tahoe; Chrysler Town & Country; Dodge Caliber, Grand Caravan and Ram; Ford Escape and F-150; GMC Sierra; Honda Pilot; Kia Sedona; Land Rover Range Rover Sport; Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class; Mitsubishi Eclipse and Lancer; and Toyota Tacoma.

The researchers used a test fixture that adhered to guidelines developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers to develop three criteria for evaluation. The first was having anchors that were easy to see and not buried beneath rear seat cushions. The second was having the LATCH attachment points unobstructed by seatbelts, foam or other parts of the seat. The third was that adults could correctly install the seats using less than 40 pounds of force.

While the study found that the majority of models didn't nail all three criteria, the list of vehicles that didn't meet any of them was much shorter: Buick Enclave; Chevrolet Impala; Dodge Avenger; Ford Flex and Taurus; Hyundai Sonata; and Toyota Sienna.

Scroll down to see a video about LATCH and read the full release from IIHS.

Continue reading IIHS says most LATCH systems are too difficult to use [w/video]

IIHS says most LATCH systems are too difficult to use [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car seatcar seatschild restraintsiihsinfant car seatinfant car seatsinsurance institute for highway safetylatchumtriuniversity of michiganuniversity of michigan transportation research instituteThu, 12 Apr 2012 14:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20214204/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/12/iihs-says-most-latch-systems-are-too-difficult-to-use-w-video/20214204/article-detail.xml 20214204 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/iihs-latch-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/iihs-latch-opt.jpg -1 2