South Korea will have a more realistic system of indicating the fuel efficiency of cars from next year. The government has responded to criticism that there can be a large discrepancy between official and real-life fuel figures.
The current fuel economy rating system is based on city driving alone; the new one will be based on the US five-cycle test, which highway driving, cold temperature operation, high acceleration, city driving and an air conditioning test.
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Fuel economy labels on cars rolled out from next year will show fuel efficiency not just in city driving but also in highway driving and a combination of both.
The official mileage of the Kia Morning (Picanto) is 18km/l (approx 51mpg) but when measured under the new system, it loses some 30% of that rated number, declining to 12.6km/l (36mpg) according to data disclosed by the parliamentary committee on knowledge economy. The Hyundai Avante hybrid’s fuel efficiency is reduced from the officially stated 17.8 km/l to 12.6.
The new system will apply to all passenger cars and 3.5-ton or smaller trucks newly registered starting next year and to existing vehicles starting in 2013, the ministry said. The Korean government also plans to launch a website that lists information on the annual fuel costs for cars of different fuel types and engine displacements.
