U.S. adopts new fuel economy labeling system

The Obama administration has adopted a new fuel economy labeling system that will be affixed to the windows of 2013 model cars and trucks sold in the United States.The label will contain information on a car’s projected fuel costs, five-year fuel savings compared to the average vehicle in the same class and a rating of 1 through 10 based on fuel economy and smog pollution. Electrics and hybrids will be the only cars that will qualify for a 10. The 10-point scale replaces an earlier administration proposal to assign A-through-D letter grades that drew a chorus of objections from automakers when it was unveiled last summer. (May 26, 2011)