Polttoainetaloudellisuudesta

Polttoainetaloudellisuudesta, commonly known in English as fuel economy, refers to the efficiency with which an engine uses fuel to perform work. The concept measures the distance a vehicle can travel per unit of fuel, typically expressed as kilometers per liter or miles per gallon. It is a critical parameter for consumers, policymakers, and manufacturers, influencing purchasing decisions, environmental policies, and technological development. Fuel economy is determined by factors such as engine design, vehicle weight, aerodynamics, transmission efficiency, and drive‑cycle characteristics.

The European Union regulates fuel economy through the Ecodesign Directive and the Motor Vehicle (Fuel Consumption) Regulation, which set progressively stricter average consumption targets for new vehicles. In the United States, the Federal Highway Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency administer the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. Both systems aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging lower fuel consumption. Private automobile manufacturers use fuel economy ratings in marketing, often releasing "combined" figures that blend city and highway drives. In recent years, the term has expanded to cover hybrid and plug‑in hybrid vehicles, as well as battery electric vehicles whose primary metric becomes electric range and energy use per mile.

Improving polttoainetaloudellisuudesta has direct economic benefits for drivers, lowering fuel costs over the lifespan of a vehicle. Environmental advantages include reduced oil consumption, lower CO₂ and nitrogen oxide emissions, and a decreased dependence on fossil fuels. Consequently, advances in lightweight materials, turbocharging, start‑stop systems, regenerative braking, and aerodynamic optimization continue to drive higher fuel economy across the global automotive sector.