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The American Energy Consumer
Table 4-6.Growth of Energy Using
Characteristics of Cars Selected Years, 1950-1971
| Energy using
characteristics |
1950 |
1960 |
1971 |
| Average gallons consumed
per vehicle |
603 |
661 |
723 |
| Miles per gallon |
15.0 |
14.3 |
13.7 |
| Miles per hour |
48.7 |
53.8 |
62.0 |
| Air conditioning-percent
of new cars |
|
7 |
61 |
| Automatic
transmission-percent of new cars |
|
72 |
91 |
| Average miles per car
(thousands) |
9.0 |
9.5 |
9.9 |
| Source: U.S. Bureau
of the Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States,
1973, Tables 898, 904, 909, 910, pp. 545, 549,
551. |
of all older cars are reported to get fifteen miles or more to
the gallon on the highway. Only about two-fifths of new cars do
that well (Table 4-7).
Appreciable
fuel savings could be made by shifting to lighter weight cars. For
example, 1974 model cars weighing 2,750 pounds tested out at an
average of just under nineteen miles per gallon. If all cars owned
by Americans in 1972-73 had gone the same distances but had the
average gasoline mileage of 1974 cars weighing 2,750 pounds,
gasoline consumption would have been reduced substantially. Table
4-8 lists the 1974 model cars that tested out at 18.5 miles per
gallon or better.
The
gasoline mileage loss from air conditioning, automatic
transmissions, and emission controls is much less than the loss due
to added weight. Losses from adding emission controls vary with car
weight, with lighter cars showing much less and in some cases no
efficiency loss.
The trend
toward falling gasoline mileage needs to be reversed or at least
stopped. The individual consumer plays an important role in this
when buying a car. Does he or she choose a lighter compact or a
heavier, more gasoline