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Fact check: The US judges vehicle fuel emissions by gallons consumed but the EU judges it by distance traveled

Checked on March 22, 2025

1. Summary of the results

The original statement is technically accurate. The European Union measures fuel efficiency in liters per 100 kilometers (distance traveled), while the United States uses miles per gallon (volume of fuel consumed) [1]. Both approaches are scientifically valid ways to express fuel economy measurements [2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

  • The original statement oversimplifies what are actually two equally valid measurement methodologies. Both systems measure the relationship between distance and fuel volume, just from different mathematical perspectives [2].
  • It's worth noting that both measurements can be converted to each other since they represent the same underlying relationship between fuel consumption and distance traveled.
  • The difference is primarily in presentation and cultural preference rather than any fundamental disagreement about how to measure fuel efficiency.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

  • The statement could be interpreted as suggesting that one system is superior to the other, when in fact both are mathematically valid approaches to measuring the same thing [2].
  • The wording might create an artificial divide between US and EU approaches, when in reality both systems:
    • Measure the same relationship between fuel and distance
    • Can be converted to each other
    • Serve their respective markets' needs effectively

  • Stakeholder interests:
    • Auto manufacturers must deal with both systems when selling vehicles internationally
    • Government regulators in both regions have invested in their respective systems
    • Consumers in each market are accustomed to their local measurement system, which influences car-buying decisions
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