Natural Resources Canada
98/03 (b)

BACKGROUNDER

AUTO$MART PROMOTES ENERGUIDE LABEL TO ENCOURAGE ENERGY-WISE CAR PURCHASES

The Auto$mart program provides Canadian vehicle owners and operators with practical information on how to buy, drive and maintain their vehicles to reduce fuel consumption, save money and benefit the environment through reduced vehicle emissions. With the launch of the new EnerGuide label for vehicles, Auto$mart can now direct consumers to this new source of information on fuel consumption which will be standard across the vehicle industry.

NRCan has worked closely with the vehicle manufacturing industry in the development of the new label. Through the Government Industry Motor Vehicle Energy Committee (GIMVEC), NRCan and members of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (CVMA) and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada (AIAMC) have worked to create a comprehensive, balanced approach to motor vehicle fuel efficiency, aimed at vehicle owners and operators and new vehicle technology.

Helping Canadians use energy efficiently is an important part of the strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help to meet the target recently set out in Kyoto, Japan. Energy use has a direct impact on emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change. More than 10 percent of the CO2 emissions produced in Canada can be attributed to personal vehicle use. For this reason, incorporating fuel efficiency into our vehicle decisions is an important step in stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions.

Through the Auto$mart program, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) works with the private sector and other levels of government to inform motorists how vehicles impact on the environment and encourage them to take action to reduce their fuel use. Auto$mart provides a number of information materials designed to help motorists consider fuel efficiency in their vehicle decisions. The Auto$mart Guide shows how to buy, drive and maintain vehicles to save money and the environment. The Fuel Economy Calculator is designed to help drivers track their fuel use and estimate their fuel consumption. A new feature of the program is the Auto$mart Student Driving Kit. The Kit, which includes instruction materials, a video and CD-ROM, provides driver trainers with the tools to teach fuel- efficient driving skills to new drivers. Market research shows that young Canadians lack knowledge about fuel-efficient driving practices but are interested in learning about fuel economy and prepared to modify their driving habits to achieve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. About 300 000 students are involved in driver training programs across Canada each year. The Student Driving Kit was introduced in 1997 and is being used by more than 500 driver trainers across Canada.

The Fuel Consumption Guide, available free of charge at new car dealerships, is helpful when comparison shopping. Published annually by Natural Resources Canada, the guide includes the fuel consumption for all light-duty vehicles, as well as the estimated yearly fuel cost and consumption in litres for each vehicle model. Consumers can also visit the interactive Auto$mart website (http://autosmart.nrcan.gc.ca), where they can learn more about the new EnerGuide fuel consumption label and search directly for the most fuel efficient vehicle by make and model, engine size and type of fuel used.

For more information:
Colleen Paton
Transportation Energy Use Division
Natural Resources Canada
(613) 996-0765