BACKGROUNDER
Beginning with the 2015 model year, the Government of Canada will introduce an improved test methodology to help consumers choose a fuel-efficient vehicle for their needs. The Government is adding three tests to the existing ratings that reflect city and highway driving. The new ratings will account for:
- driving at higher speeds with more rapid acceleration and braking;
- using the air conditioner; and
- cold weather driving conditions.
In addition, Natural Resources Canada is working with the automobile industry to introduce a new label for the 2016 model year. The new label will align with the current U.S. label and provide additional information such as a combined city and highway rating, the fuel consumption range of other models in the same vehicle class, and the amount of CO2 emissions. The 2016 label will also be tailored to address new, emerging technologies such as battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
In the interim, until the 2016 label takes effect, the fuel consumption label for the 2015 model year will be similar to the current label but reflect the new testing methodology.
Since the new fuel consumption ratings account for the additional energy used in typical driving conditions, the ratings on the label for the 2015 model year will be a more accurate description of the amount of fuel that the vehicle consumes. As a result, consumers may notice that in some cases the fuel efficiency rating on the 2015 label is slightly lower than that on the 2014 label for the same vehicle.
During 2014, both 2014 and 2015 model year vehicles will be in dealership showrooms. To distinguish between labels, the 2015 interim label will clearly indicate that its ratings are the result of the new test methodology. Natural Resources Canada’s website explains how the improved ratings work and also shows both the existing and the improved fuel consumption ratings for all models from 1995 to 2014 so consumers can compare fuel consumption for any vehicle.
