Miles Per Gallon (MPG)

American drivers burn 140 billion gallons of gasoline every year

Fuel economy estimates for all cars and trucks in the USA, including flex-fuel vehicles, are given in miles per liquid gallon (MPG). If the USA is serious about reducing gasoline consumption and ending oil dependence, then the important measure should be miles per gallon of gasoline (MPGG).

MPG vs. MPGG

Ford's F150 flex-fuel pickup is designed to run on either gasoline or a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline (E85). The 2008 Ford F150 flex-fuel Pickup is estimated to get 13 miles per gallon in city traffic and 18 miles per gallon on the open road, when using gasoline. When using E85, the Ford flex-fuel pickup is estimated to get 10 miles per gallon in city traffic and 13 miles per gallon on the open road.

13 MPG vs. 85 MPGG

E85 contains only 15% gasoline per gallon of liquid fuel. Therefore, a flex-fuel vehicle, using E85, will burn one gallon of gasoline for every 6 and 2/3 gallons of E85 consumed. At 13 miles per gallon on the open road, the 2008 Ford F150 flex-fuel pickup, running on E85, will travel over 85 miles before it burns a gallon of gasoline.

Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)
CAFE Overview - Frequently Asked Questions