Assessment of Fuel Economy Technologies for Light-Duty Vehicles

Assessment of Fuel Economy Technologies for Light-Duty Vehicles

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2011-06-03

Total Pages: 373

ISBN-13: 0309216389

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Various combinations of commercially available technologies could greatly reduce fuel consumption in passenger cars, sport-utility vehicles, minivans, and other light-duty vehicles without compromising vehicle performance or safety. Assessment of Technologies for Improving Light Duty Vehicle Fuel Economy estimates the potential fuel savings and costs to consumers of available technology combinations for three types of engines: spark-ignition gasoline, compression-ignition diesel, and hybrid. According to its estimates, adopting the full combination of improved technologies in medium and large cars and pickup trucks with spark-ignition engines could reduce fuel consumption by 29 percent at an additional cost of $2,200 to the consumer. Replacing spark-ignition engines with diesel engines and components would yield fuel savings of about 37 percent at an added cost of approximately $5,900 per vehicle, and replacing spark-ignition engines with hybrid engines and components would reduce fuel consumption by 43 percent at an increase of $6,000 per vehicle. The book focuses on fuel consumption-the amount of fuel consumed in a given driving distance-because energy savings are directly related to the amount of fuel used. In contrast, fuel economy measures how far a vehicle will travel with a gallon of fuel. Because fuel consumption data indicate money saved on fuel purchases and reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, the book finds that vehicle stickers should provide consumers with fuel consumption data in addition to fuel economy information.


Automotive Fuel Economy

Automotive Fuel Economy

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1992-02-01

Total Pages: 280

ISBN-13: 0309045304

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This volume presents realistic estimates for the level of fuel economy that is achievable in the next decade for cars and light trucks made in the United States and Canada. A source of objective and comprehensive information on the topic, this book takes into account real-world factors such as the financial conditions in the automotive industry, costs and benefits to consumers, and marketability of high-efficiency vehicles. The committee is composed of experts from the fields of science, technology, finance, and regulation and offers practical evaluations of technological improvements that could contribute to increased fuel efficiency. The volume also examines potential barriers to improvement, such as high production costs, regulations on safety and emissions, and consumer preferences. This practical book is of considerable interest to car and light truck manufacturers, policymakers, federal and state agencies, and the public.


Technologies and Approaches to Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles

Technologies and Approaches to Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2010-07-30

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13: 0309159474

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Technologies and Approaches to Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles evaluates various technologies and methods that could improve the fuel economy of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, such as tractor-trailers, transit buses, and work trucks. The book also recommends approaches that federal agencies could use to regulate these vehicles' fuel consumption. Currently there are no fuel consumption standards for such vehicles, which account for about 26 percent of the transportation fuel used in the U.S. The miles-per-gallon measure used to regulate the fuel economy of passenger cars. is not appropriate for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, which are designed above all to carry loads efficiently. Instead, any regulation of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles should use a metric that reflects the efficiency with which a vehicle moves goods or passengers, such as gallons per ton-mile, a unit that reflects the amount of fuel a vehicle would use to carry a ton of goods one mile. This is called load-specific fuel consumption (LSFC). The book estimates the improvements that various technologies could achieve over the next decade in seven vehicle types. For example, using advanced diesel engines in tractor-trailers could lower their fuel consumption by up to 20 percent by 2020, and improved aerodynamics could yield an 11 percent reduction. Hybrid powertrains could lower the fuel consumption of vehicles that stop frequently, such as garbage trucks and transit buses, by as much 35 percent in the same time frame.


Cost, Effectiveness, and Deployment of Fuel Economy Technologies for Light-Duty Vehicles

Cost, Effectiveness, and Deployment of Fuel Economy Technologies for Light-Duty Vehicles

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2015-09-28

Total Pages: 812

ISBN-13: 0309373913

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The light-duty vehicle fleet is expected to undergo substantial technological changes over the next several decades. New powertrain designs, alternative fuels, advanced materials and significant changes to the vehicle body are being driven by increasingly stringent fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission standards. By the end of the next decade, cars and light-duty trucks will be more fuel efficient, weigh less, emit less air pollutants, have more safety features, and will be more expensive to purchase relative to current vehicles. Though the gasoline-powered spark ignition engine will continue to be the dominant powertrain configuration even through 2030, such vehicles will be equipped with advanced technologies, materials, electronics and controls, and aerodynamics. And by 2030, the deployment of alternative methods to propel and fuel vehicles and alternative modes of transportation, including autonomous vehicles, will be well underway. What are these new technologies - how will they work, and will some technologies be more effective than others? Written to inform The United States Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards, this new report from the National Research Council is a technical evaluation of costs, benefits, and implementation issues of fuel reduction technologies for next-generation light-duty vehicles. Cost, Effectiveness, and Deployment of Fuel Economy Technologies for Light-Duty Vehicles estimates the cost, potential efficiency improvements, and barriers to commercial deployment of technologies that might be employed from 2020 to 2030. This report describes these promising technologies and makes recommendations for their inclusion on the list of technologies applicable for the 2017-2025 CAFE standards.


Energy Efficiency of Vehicles

Energy Efficiency of Vehicles

Author: Doug Carroll

Publisher: SAE International

Published: 2020-12-18

Total Pages: 306

ISBN-13: 1468601482

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Energy Efficiency of Vehicles educates readers about energy and the environment and the relationship between the energy we use and the environment. The world is at a point in time when people need to make very important decisions about energy in the next few decades. This book enables readers to utilize our scientific knowledge to make good rational decisions. Energy Efficiency of Vehicles provides information on: Calculations related to energy, power, and efficiency, and the impact of using different types of energy on the environment. Environmental consequences of consuming energy. Models related to impact of city driving on the energy efficiency and fuel economy of cars and trucks.


Effectiveness and Impact of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards

Effectiveness and Impact of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2002-01-29

Total Pages: 181

ISBN-13: 0309170567

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Since CAFE standards were established 25 years ago, there have been significant changes in motor vehicle technology, globalization of the industry, the mix and characteristics of vehicle sales, production capacity, and other factors. This volume evaluates the implications of these changes as well as changes anticipated in the next few years, on the need for CAFE, as well as the stringency and/or structure of the CAFE program in future years.


Energy Technology Innovation

Energy Technology Innovation

Author: Arnulf Grubler

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 409

ISBN-13: 110702322X

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An edited volume on factors determining success or failure of energy technology innovation, for researchers and policy makers.


The World's Most Fuel Efficient Vehicle

The World's Most Fuel Efficient Vehicle

Author: Jean-Jacques Santin

Publisher: vdf Hochschulverlag AG

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 354

ISBN-13: 3728131342

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The goal of the PAC-Car project, a joint undertaking of ETH Zurich and ist partners, was to build a vehicle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell system that uses as little fuel as possible. PAC-Car II set a new world record in fuel efficient driving (the equivalent of 5,385 km per liter of gasoline) during the Shell Eco-marathon in Ladoux (France) on June 26, 2005. This book, addressed to graduate students, engineering professors and others interested in fuel economy contests, is the frst to summarize the issues involved when designing and constructing a vehicle for fuel economy competitions. It describes the adventure of developing the PAC-Car II and others some specifc technical advice for anyone who wants to design an ultra-lightweight land vehicle, whatever its energy source. PAC-Car was a joint project of ETH Zurich and partners from academia and industry. The goal was to build a vehicle powered by a fuel cell system that uses as little fuel as possible. PAC-Car II set a new world record in fuel efficient driving (5,385 km per liter of petrol equivalent) during the Shell Eco-marathon in Ladoux (France) on June 26, 2005. This book is the first to summarize the design and construction issues of a vehicle for fuel economy contests. It deals with the adventure of developing this world-record vehicle and provides some specific technical tips. It will help anyone who is designing an ultra lightweight land vehicle, whatever its source of energy (thermal engine, human power, solar panels), and/or those who are interested in fuel cell applications. The book addresses graduate students and teachers of engineering disciplines as well as other people interested in fuel economy contests. Content: fuel economy competitions, design phase of a fuel economy vehicle, tires, vehicle behavior, aerodynamics, vehicle body structure, wheels, front axle and steering system, powertrain, fuel cell system, driving strategy, conclusion and outlook.