New Interactive Automotive Labels Provide Consumers with More Data

Interactive Automotive Labels

Automotive labels are going to be getting a little more interactive for car owners. Vehicles beginning with the model year 2013 will have new labels illustrating their fuel efficiency. They’ll even have QR Codes for consumers to scan with their smartphones to compare the fuel efficiency of different vehicle models.
The US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Transportation unveiled the new labels in March, which were mandated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration press release, the new labels include:

• New ways to compare energy use and cost between new-technology cars that use electricity and conventional cars that are gasoline-powered.
• Useful estimates on how much consumers will save or spend on fuel over the next five years compared to the average new vehicle.
• Easy-to-read ratings of how a model compares to all others for smog emissions and emissions of pollution that contribute to climate change.
• An estimate of how much fuel or electricity it takes to drive 100 miles.
• Information on the driving range and charging time of an electric vehicle.
• A QR Code® that will allow users of smartphones to access online information about how various models compare on fuel economy and other environmental and energy factors. This tool will also allow consumers to enter information about their typical commutes and driving behavior in order to get a more precise estimate of fuel costs and savings.

The new labels are designed to help consumers save money at the pump by providing them with access to information about each car’s fuel efficiency.
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said “the new fuel economy and environmental labels are a win for automobile consumers and for the nation’s energy independence. These labels will provide consumers with up front information about a vehicle’s fuel costs and savings so that they can make informed decisions when purchasing a new car.”
The EPA and USDOT have created a new generation of labels for a new generation of vehicles and consumers, said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. She added, “Today’s car buyers want the best possible information about which cars on the lot offer the greatest fuel economy and the best environmental performance. The new labels provide comprehensive information to American car buyers, helping them make a choice that will save money at the gas pump and prevent pollution in the air we breathe.”
Whitlam Group not only takes pride in green initiatives like the new fuel economy standards laid out by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, but in our own industry as well. We believe that these labels are not only good for consumers, but the auto industry as a whole.