Page 10 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – September/October 2021

Does Your “Miles-to-Empty”
Warning Fuel When You Decide to Fill Up?
New research from AAA finds drivers may over rely on in-dash fuel economy displays
In-dash fuel economy displays estimate the number of miles a vehicle gets per gallon, including how many “miles to empty.” AAA tested the accuracy
of these systems and found their estimates vary significantly over shorter trips or are dependent on the consistency of things that affect gas mileage like speed and acceleration. This means drivers could be taking an unnecessary risk if they over-rely on these displays.
This is especially true for the 74% of drivers who use their “miles-to-empty” display when they are low on gas to decide when to fill up (according to a AAA consumer survey). To avoid running out of gas, AAA recommends drivers watch their gas gauge and fill up when it reaches a quarter of a tank.
“People want to get the most out of a tank of
gas, especially when prices are higher,” said Megan McKernan, manager of the Automotive Research Center. “Collectively, the systems we tested were relatively accurate, but a closer examination of different driving scenarios revealed significant variability based on changes in speed, acceleration and distance.”
Testing Shows Driving Habits Directly Impact Fuel Economy
AAA, in collaboration with the Automotive Research Center of the Automobile Club of Southern California, used a dynamometer, essentially a treadmill for vehicle testing, to run selected vehicles through a series of simulated driving scenarios to determine the accuracy of the fuel economy estimation and range value (aka “miles- to-empty”) systems.
On average, the fuel economy display of the vehicles tested showed a relatively low error of 2.3% as compared
10 I SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021