The most recent edition of the EPA’s annual report Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends notes that alternative fuel vehicles (including EVs, PHEVs and CNG vehicles) are beginning to have a “measurable and meaningful impact” on the fuel economy and CO₂ emissions of the country’s passenger car fleet.

The EPA report, published annually since 1975, is an authoritative reference for CO₂ emissions, fuel economy, and powertrain technology trends. The supporting data comes directly from automobile manufacturers.

For the first time, this year’s edition includes a brief analysis of the impact of alternative fuel vehicles. “The combined production of alternative fueled vehicles has increased from under 1,200 in model year 2010 to nearly 105,000 in model year 2013,” notes the report. “While alternative fueled vehicles still represent a very limited portion (0.7%) of overall new vehicle production, this increase by a factor of about 100 in three years is both notable and significant.”

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Of the major manufacturers, Nissan had the highest concentration of AFV production at 2.0%, followed by GM at 1.2%. Tesla, which sells exclusively EVs, had the highest fuel economy of any manufacturer in terms of MPGe. So far, “the impact of AFVs on overall manufacturer numbers is still relatively small, and does not change the manufacturer rankings, for either adjusted fuel economy or adjusted CO₂ emissions.”

Source: EPA via Green Car Congress