§ 600.307-08 - Fuel economy label format requirements.

Examples of fuel economy labels for gasoline and diesel vehicles, dual fuel vehicles and alternate fuel vehicles are provided in appendix IV of this part. Detailed printing specifications are given in appendix V of this part, and unless otherwise permitted, apply to the provisions in this section. The Administrator may approve modifications to the style guidelines in cases where there may be space limitations and/or legibility concerns.

(a) Fuel economy labels must be:

(1) Rectangular in shape with a minimum height of 4.5 inches (114 mm) and a minimum length of 7.0 inches (178 mm) as specified in appendix V of this part.

(2) Printed in a color which contrasts with the background paper color.

(3) Have a contrasting border, with dimensions specified in appendix V of this part.

(b) Label information. The information on the label shall contain:

(1) The titles “CITY MPG” and “HIGHWAY MPG”, centered over the applicable fuel economy estimates.

(2) The numeric, whole-number city and highway estimates, as determined in § 600.210-08, as specified in appendix V of this part. The font size of the numbers may be larger than specified, provided: that the city and highway numbers are equal in size; that the titles “CITY MPG” and “HIGHWAY MPG” are increased in the same proportion; and that doing so does not obscure the other information on the label.

(i) For dedicated gasoline-fueled, diesel-fueled, alcohol-fueled, and natural gas-fueled automobiles, the city and highway fuel economy estimates calculated in accordance with § 600.210-08.

(ii) For alcohol dual fuel automobiles and natural gas dual fuel automobiles, the city and highway fuel economy estimates for operation on gasoline or diesel fuel as calculated in § 600.210-08(a) and (b).

(3) The fuel pump logo.

(4) The following phrase: “Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.”, located and formatted as shown in appendix V of this part.

(5) The statement: “Expected range for most drivers: __ to __ mpg”, placed underneath both the city and highway estimates, centered to the estimate numbers. The range values for this statement are to be calculated in accordance with the following:

(i) The lower range values shall be determined by multiplying the city and highway estimates by 0.83, then rounding to the next lower integer value.

(ii) The upper range values shall be determined by multiplying the city and highway estimates by 1.17 and rounding to the next higher integer value.

(6) The top border shall contain the centered title “EPA Fuel Economy Estimates” in a contrasting color.

(7) Alternate fuel titles. (i) For dedicated alcohol-fueled automobiles, the title “[insert appropriate fuel (e.g., “ETHANOL (E85))”] *”. The title shall be positioned and sized according to the style guidelines in appendix V of this part.

(ii) For dedicated natural gas-fueled automobiles, the title “NATURAL GAS *”. The title shall be positioned in the grey area above the window of the fuel pump logo, in a size and format specified in appendix V of this part.

(iii) For alcohol-based dual fuel automobiles and natural gas dual fuel automobiles, the title “Dual Fuel Vehicle*”, and directly below that, the title “[insert appropriate conventional fuel (example Gasoline)]-[insert appropriate alternate fuel (example “Ethanol (E85)”]”. Both of these titles are centered in the grey area above the window of the fuel pump logo, with a size and format specified in appendix V of this part.

(8) Alternate fuel information. (i) For dedicated alcohol-fueled automobiles, the title “[insert appropriate fuel (example “E85”)]” centered above the title “CITY MPG” and above the title “HIGHWAY MPG” with a size and format specified in appendix V of this part.

(ii) For dedicated natural gas-fueled automobile, the title “GASOLINE EQUIVALENT” centered above the title “CITY MPG” and above the title “HIGHWAY MPG” with a size and format specified in appendix V of this part.

(iii) For alcohol dual fuel automobiles and natural gas dual fuel automobiles, the title “GASOLINE” [or “DIESEL”, as applicable] centered above the title “CITY MPG” and above the title “HIGHWAY MPG” with a size and format specified in appendix V of this part.

(9) The bottom border of the label shall contain the following centered statement, formatted according to the style guidelines in appendix V: “See the FREE Fuel Economy Guide at dealers or www.fueleconomy.gov”.

(10) If the label is separate from the Automobile Information Disclosure Act label, the vehicle description, as described in paragraph (d) of this section, located on the label such that it does not interfere with the other required information. In cases where the vehicle description information may not easily fit on the label, the manufacturer may request Administrator approval of modifications to the label format to accommodate this information.

(11) Comparison fuel economy. A graphic depiction of comparison fuel economy information, in the style and format given in appendix V of this part, containing the following elements:

(i) A bar that represents the total range of combined fuel economy for the applicable class of comparison fuel economy.

(ii) A downward pointing tail-less arrow, located at the top of the bar positioned on the bar where that vehicle's combined fuel economy falls relative to the range of comparable vehicles.

(iii) The combined fuel economy value for the vehicle as determined in § 600.210-08(c), located directly above the arrow.

(iv) The statement “This Vehicle” directly above the combined fuel economy number.

(vi)(A) For gasoline and diesel fuel vehicles, the statement “Combined Fuel Economy”, located above the “This Vehicle” statement, and centered above the bar.

(B) For dual fuel vehicles, the statement “Combined Gasoline [or “Diesel”, as appropriate] Fuel Economy”, located above the “This Vehicle” statement, and centered above the bar, in two lines, if needed.

(C) For dedicated natural gas vehicles, the statement “Combined Gasoline Equivalent Fuel Economy”, located above the “This Vehicle” statement, and centered above the bar, in two lines, if needed.

(v) The upper and lower MPG ranges for that class of vehicles, with the lower range shown directly to the left of the bar and the upper range directly to the right of the bar. The range values are those determined in accordance with § 600.311.

(vi) The statement “All [name of the comparable vehicle class]s”, centered below the bar. The names of the comparable classes given in § 600.315-08 apply. For the purpose of presenting the name of the class on the label, the following class names may be shortened as indicated: minicompact cars may be “Minicompacts”, subcompact cars may be “Subcompacts”, compact cars may be “Compacts”, small station wagons may be “Small Wagons”, midsize station wagons may be “Midsize Wagons”, large station wagons may be “Large Wagons”, small pickup trucks may be “Small Pickups”, standard pickup trucks may be “Standard Pickups”, and sport utility vehicles may be “SUVs”.

(12)(i) The statement: “Estimated Annual Fuel Cost:” followed by the appropriate value calculated in accordance with paragraph (f) or (g) of this section and the statement “based on [EPA-provided number of miles per paragraph (f) of this section] miles at [the EPA-provided dollar cost per gallon of the required fuel for that vehicle] per gallon of gasoline.” The estimated annual fuel cost value for alcohol dual fuel automobiles and natural gas dual fuel vehicles to appear on the fuel economy label shall be that calculated based on operating the vehicle on gasoline or diesel fuel as determined in paragraphs (f) and (g) of this section.

(ii) At the manufacturer's option, the label may also contain the estimated annual fuel cost value based on operating the vehicle on the alternative fuel.

(13) The Gas Guzzler statement, when applicable (see paragraph (e) of this section), must be located on the bottom half of the label, either in the space reserved for alternate fuel information, or, if the vehicle is an alternate fuel vehicle, directly beneath this space.

(14) Alternate fuel statement. (i) For dedicated alternate fuel automobiles, the statement: “* This vehicle operates on NATURAL GAS FUEL [or other alternate fuel as appropriate] only. Fuel economy is expressed in gasoline equivalent values.” This statement is located on the right-hand bottom portion of the label. See appendix V of this part for details of location, size and format.

(ii) For dual fuel automobiles, the statement: “*Fuel economy when operating on E85 [or other alternate fuel as appropriate] will yield different values than gasoline [or diesel as appropriate]. See Fuel Economy Guide for more information.” Optionally, this statement may be replaced with the city, highway and combined fuel economy values using the alternate fuel, in a size and format specified in appendix V of this part.

(c) The city mpg number shall be displayed on the upper half of the left side of the label and the highway mpg number displayed on the upper half of the right side of the label. If the manufacturer chooses to enlarge the label from that specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the logo and the fuel economy label values, including the titles “CITY MPG” and “HIGHWAY MPG”, must be increased in the same proportion.

(d) Vehicle description information for general and specific labels.

(1) Where the fuel economy label is physically incorporated with the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act label, the applicable vehicle description, as set forth in this paragraph, does not have to be repeated if the information is readily found on this label.

(2) For fuel economy labels which are physically separate from the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act label, the vehicle description on general labels will be as follows:

(i) Model year;

(ii) Vehicle car line;

(iii) Engine displacement, in cubic inches, cubic centimeters, or liters whichever is consistent with the customary description of that engine;

(iv) Transmission class.

(v) Other descriptive information, as necessary, such as number of engine cylinders, to distinguish otherwise identical model types or, in the case of specific labels, vehicle configurations, as approved by the Administrator.

(e)(1) For fuel economy labels of passenger automobile model types requiring a tax statement under § 600.513-08, the phrase “Gas Guzzler Tax” followed by the dollar amount, in a size and format specified in appendix V of this part.

(2) The tax value required by this paragraph shall be based on the combined fuel economy value for the model type calculated in accordance with § 600.513-08 and rounded to the nearest 0.1 mpg.

(f) Estimated annual fuel cost—general labels. The annual fuel cost estimate for operating an automobile included in a model type shall be computed by using values for the fuel cost per gallon of the recommended fuel as specified by the manufacturer in the owner's manual and average annual mileage, predetermined by the Administrator, and the combined fuel economy determined in § 600.210(c).

(1) The annual fuel cost estimate for a model type is computed by multiplying:

(i) Fuel cost per gallon (natural gas must be expressed in units of cost per equivalent gallon, where 100 SCF = 0.823 equivalent gallons) expressed in dollars to the nearest 0.05 dollar; by

(ii) Average annual mileage, expressed in miles per year to the nearest 1,000 miles per year, by

(iii) The inverse of the combined fuel economy value determined in § 600.210-08(c) for a model type (as determined in § 600.210-08(a), rounded to the nearest 0.0001 gallons per mile (natural gas must be expressed in units of gallon equivalent per mile, where 100 SCF=0.823 equivalent gallons).

(2) The product computed in paragraph (f)(1) of this section and rounded to the nearest dollar per year will comprise the annual fuel cost estimate that appears on general labels for the model type.

(g) Estimated annual fuel cost—specific labels. (1) The annual fuel cost estimate for operating an automobile included in a vehicle configuration will be computed by using the values for the fuel cost per volume (gallon for liquid fuels, cubic feet for gaseous fuels) and average mileage and the fuel economy determined by multiplying:

(i) Fuel cost per gallon (natural gas must be expressed in units of cost per equivalent gallon, where 100 SCF=0.823 equivalent gallons) expressed in dollars to the nearest 0.05 dollar; by

(ii) Average annual mileage, expressed in miles per year to the nearest 1,000 miles per year, by

(iii) The inverse, rounded to the nearest 0.0001 gallons per mile (natural gas must be expressed in units of gallon equivalent per mile, where 100 SCF=0.823 equivalent gallons) of the combined fuel economy value determined in § 600.210-08(c) for a vehicle configuration (as determined in § 600.210-08(b).

(2) The product computed in paragraph (g)(1) of this section and rounded to the nearest dollar per year will comprise the annual fuel cost estimate that appears on specific labels for that vehicle configuration.

(h) For model year 2008 and 2009 automobiles only, the following statement, located directly above the fuel pump logo, centered in the label: “These estimates reflect new EPA methods beginning with 2008 models.” The size and format is specified in appendix V to this part.

(i) For model year 2008 vehicles manufactured or imported prior to September 1, 2007, manufacturers may optionally use the label format provisions of § 600.307-95. In this case, the following information must be included on the label:

(1) The city and highway estimates, as determined according to the provisions in § 600.210-08.

(2) The statement “These estimates reflect new EPA methods beginning with 2008 models.”, centered, and located in a prominent position on the label, preferably near the top of the label.

(j) For model year 2008 vehicles manufactured or imported prior to June 1, 2007, the manufacturer may optionally include the city and highway fuel economy determined under the provisions of § 600.209-95, presented in fine print underneath the city and highway mpg numbers from paragraph (c) of this section, in a statement as follows: “[xx] MPG under old methods”.

(1) The font size may not exceed 8 points and may not be bold.

(2) If the optional provisions of paragraph (i) of this section are selected, the location of the fuel economy estimates allowed under this paragraph (j) may be either:

(i) underneath the large city and highway miles-per-gallon numbers, or

(ii) in a statement at the bottom of the label as follows: “*Fuel economy under the old methods would be [xx] MPG city and [xx] MPG highway”. The statement required in paragraph (i)(2) must contain an asterisk (*) after the word “models”.

(k) Special label format requirements. The Administrator may prescribe special label format and information requirements for vehicles which are not specifically described in this section and for which sample labels are not provided in appendix IV of this part 600. These types of vehicles may include, but are not limited to battery electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and vehicles equipped with hydrogen internal combustion engines. The format and information requirements for the labels of such vehicles will be designed to provide simple, easy to understand, fuel economy values in accordance with the way the fuel is expected to be dispensed, sold or marketed in the field to the ultimate consumer. The Administrator may prescribe special label format and information requirements for other information required to be displayed on fuel economy labels pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 32908(b)(1)(F). For example, the Administrator may prescribe special label format and information requirements to display the city and highway electrical energy consumption values and the all electric driving range for battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.