- Automobile buyers proceed to prioritize gas economic system, in line with the newest survey from Shopper Experiences
- 96% of respondents mentioned gas economic system was a minimum of considerably essential when contemplating what automobile to buy
- Respondents imagine the burden is on automakers extra so than the federal government to extend gas economic system
A majority of Individuals help stricter gas economic system laws, in line with a brand new Shopper Experiences survey.
For this survey, Shopper Experiences requested 2,191 American adults concerning the significance of higher gasoline mileage between August and September 2024. Of that pattern, 91% drove internal-combustion vehicles—and appeared keenly conscious of the environmental and financial impression of burning fossil fuels.
The overwhelming majority of survey respondents—96%—mentioned gas economic system was a minimum of considerably essential when contemplating what automobile to buy or lease, whereas 66% mentioned it was “essential” or “extraordinarily essential.” 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 Shopper Experiences over 9 years. That perspective was additionally bipartisan, with majorities of each Democrats and Republicans saying automakers ought to proceed to enhance gas economic system.
Such enhancements also needs to 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 would not belief automakers to enhance effectivity on their very own. Simply 27% agreed that automakers care about decreasing gas prices.
And whereas many Individuals would take into account paying extra up entrance for a hybrid if the additional value was made up in gas financial savings over the course of possession, they represented a a lot slimmer majority of 52%.
Automobile lifetime gas financial savings since 2001 (by way of Shopper Experiences)
Steadily-increasing fuel-economy requirements have already delivered important financial savings no matter what vehicles Individuals are shopping for, although. In a separate evaluation, Shopper Experiences discovered that, taken collectively, more durable requirements have delivered gas financial savings of over $9,000 in comparison with automobiles from 2001. An extra $6,000 in financial savings may very well be achieved by the 2029 mannequin 12 months, if present requirements stay in place, Shopper Experiences famous.
An replace to Company Common Gasoline Economic system (CAFE) requirements confirmed in 2024 covers mannequin years 2027-2031, and requires fuel-economy enhancements of simply 2% for passenger vehicles and a couple of% for mild vans throughout these mannequin 12 months. The EPA estimates that its corresponding guidelines would require 56% EVs by 2032, plus an extra 13% plug-in hybrids. That is a slower rollout than the 67% EV share initially proposed.
Even these small enhancements might come below menace by an incoming Trump administration that favors Massive Oil over decreasing emissions. However as Shopper Experiences factors out, such insurance policies might additionally cheat voters out of financial savings on the pump.
