Displaying FuelTypePrimary from vPIC Without Overselling Range or MPG
NHTSA vPIC often returns FuelTypePrimary (and sometimes a secondary fuel field) as part of a VIN decode. That string is useful: gasoline, diesel, electric, flexible fuel, and similar catalog labels help a buyer know what the factory intended. The trap is turning "Gasoline" into a range estimate, an MPG badge, or a green marketing claim the API never made. This post is about honest display of fuel…
The FuelTypePrimary field from vPIC data provides manufacturers' catalog label for the primary fuel type of a vehicle, such as gasoline, diesel, electric, or flexible fuel. It does not include real-world MPG, MPGe, remaining range, or secondary fuel mode information. If the FuelTypePrimary field is empty or not applicable, it simply means vPIC did not assign a value for that specific VIN.
Overselling range or MPG based on fuel type alone is misleading and should be avoided. The API provides a structured view object containing primary, secondary fuel types, and a label indicating it is factory or vPIC catalog data, not efficiency measurements. When displaying fuel type information, it is essential to present the raw fuel type from vPIC without altering it to create marketing claims or false efficiency estimates.
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