Fuels Paradise

The basis for fuel-efficiency claims and the regulation of CO2 emissions are results obtained under “type-approval” tests. What was once a gap between the mileages achieved on test tracks and real-world roads has become a chasm, according to a recent report from Transport & Environment (T&E), a green pressure group. Analysis by the International Council on Clean Transportation, a consultancy, of data reported by car owners in Europe shows that in 2013 fuel-economy figures “on the road” were on average 38% worse than those advertised (see chart).