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How to Download FuelEconomy.gov Data (CSV) for Research

February 23, 2026 12 min read

Quick Summary FuelEconomy.gov (DOE) provides downloadable fuel-economy datasets (CSV) covering vehicle MPG, MPGe, fuel type, and related fields. It's a strong source for building comparisons, calculators, and research without scraping web pages.

FuelEconomy.gov provides model-year data files and a combined vehicles file.
The download page describes key field meanings and notes MPGe and kWh values include charging losses for plug-in vehicles.
For programmatic access, FuelEconomy.gov also offers web services (API-style endpoints).

What We Know (Sourced)

FuelEconomy.gov provides a data download page listing CSV data files. The page also includes notes about field meanings and explains that for plug-in vehicles, MPGe and kWh values include charging losses.

EPA label documents and testing summaries provide additional context for how standardized values are produced and used for comparisons, but the FuelEconomy.gov dataset is the most direct "grab it and analyze it" source.

What Files You Can Download

FuelEconomy.gov lists two common entry points:

Model-year data files (one file per model year)
A combined vehicles file (often used for bulk analysis)

Depending on your use case, a model-year file is easier to manage, while the combined vehicles file is convenient for tools that need a broad catalog.

How to Download the Data (Step-by-Step)

Go to the FuelEconomy.gov download page and choose the dataset you want (model year or combined).
Download the CSV and store it with a clear filename (include the model year and the download date).
Inspect the field definitions listed on the page so you map columns correctly (MPG, fuel type, etc.).
Build your analysis (filter, group, compute cost per mile, etc.).

Data hygiene: Keep the source URL and the published "Updated" date from FuelEconomy.gov in your notes so your results are reproducible.

Key Fields (MPG, MPGe, kWh)

If you're building consumer-facing comparisons, make sure you interpret fields correctly:

MPG: used for gasoline and diesel vehicles (city/highway/combined variants may exist depending on dataset fields).
MPGe: a gasoline-equivalent efficiency metric for plug-in vehicles.
kWh: electricity use values for plug-in vehicles, which FuelEconomy.gov notes include charging losses.

Related guides that help interpret these metrics:

Want to use FuelEconomy data to shop?

Start with a standardized list, then translate MPG into cost per mile and annual fuel cost.

How to use FuelEconomy.gov

What's Next

If you need programmatic access: consider FuelEconomy.gov web services (API-style endpoints). Related: FuelEconomy.gov API guide.
If you are publishing comparisons: explain your assumptions (fuel price, miles/year) and show cost per mile, not just MPG.
If you're building an EV cost tool: ensure you account for charging losses in kWh/MPGe interpretations (per FuelEconomy.gov dataset notes).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FuelEconomy.gov data official?

FuelEconomy.gov is a U.S. Department of Energy site and provides a dataset intended for public use. For label interpretation, EPA label pages provide official label explanations.

Do MPGe and kWh include charging losses?

FuelEconomy.gov's download page notes that plug-in vehicle MPGe and kWh values include charging losses. EPA also notes MPGe values include charging losses in its EV testing overview.

Should I use the CSV downloads or the web services?

CSV downloads are great for offline analysis and bulk processing. Web services are useful when you need to fetch specific vehicle data programmatically. Choose based on your workflow.