2007, Downsizing, Economy and Fuel Economy

Study Assesses Product Attribute Trade-offs and Technological Progress; Meeting Proposed Obama Fuel Economy Standards Will Require Downsizing and Change in Fleet Mix

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 2, 2009

Changes in the attributes (clockwise from upper left, weight, power, fuel economy and torque) of the Honda Accord over time as an example of fleet trends in the US. In contrast, fuel economy actually increased by 15% during that period. Knittel, 2009. Click to enlarge.

Fuel Economy

Fuel Economy Downsizing Obama Economy

NRC report finds significant number of near-term technologies could greatly reduce fuel consumption in passenger cars

Green Car Congress

JUNE 16, 2011

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% at an additional cost of $2,200 to the consumer.

Fuel

Fuel Downsizing Fuel Economy Diesel

NRC report finds Federal analysis to set LD CAFE and GHG standards generally of high quality; some technologies and issues should be re-examined

Green Car Congress

JUNE 19, 2015

The analysis used by federal agencies to set standards for fuel economy (CAFE) and greenhouse gas emissions for new US light-duty vehicles from 2017 to 2025 was thorough and of high caliber overall, according to a new report from the National Research Council. UMTRI Survey: US drivers want better fuel economy, don’t care how.

Standards

Standards Fuel Economy Economy EPA

Controlled Power Technologies Packages Its Switched Reluctance Systems in ‘RegEnBoost’ System for Enhanced Support for Downsizing

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 11, 2009

Small displacement engines offer excellent CO 2 and fuel economy benefits; they have lower parasitic losses and operate more efficiently under part load conditions. Small engines can also be turbocharged to deliver comparable torque and power to a larger naturally aspirated engine.

Downsizing

Downsizing Power Powered Exhaust

National Research Council Study Finds That Available Technologies Can Result in Significant Fuel Savings for Passenger Vehicles Over the Next 15 Years, But at Higher Purchase Prices for Consumers

Green Car Congress

JUNE 4, 2010

Various combinations of commercially available technologies could greatly reduce fuel consumption in passenger cars, sport-utility vehicles, minivans, and other light-duty vehicles over the next 15 years without compromising vehicle performance or safety, according to a new report by the National Research Council. Engines and Technologies.

Purchase

Purchase Lithium Ion Fuel Available

Full lifecycle CO2 of new Mercedes C-Class 10% less than outgoing model

Green Car Congress

MARCH 31, 2014

In terms of carbon monoxide (CO) emissions during the operation of the vehicle, a significant improvement was achieved over the 2007 predecessor. In total, through the production and use phases, substantial savings are achieved owing to the significantly reduced fuel consumption of the new C-Class. The new C-Class. l/100 km (36.8

Mercedes

Mercedes CO2 2007 MPG

EPAs GHG Standards for Light-Duty Vehicles; Special Credits To Encourage PHEVs, BEVs and FCVs

Green Car Congress

APRIL 2, 2010

Yesterday, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National High Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) jointly established increasingly stringent greenhouse gas emission standards under the Clean Air Act for 2012 through 2016 model-year vehicles and fuel economy standards under the Corporate Average Fuel Economy program, respectively.

EPA

EPA Standards Light PHEV

Chrysler Disbands ENVI Electric Vehicle Group; Function Absorbed into Traditional Line Organization

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 8, 2009

Reuters reports that Chrysler has disbanded its ENVI team, formed in 2007 to bring electric-drive vehicles and related advanced-propulsion technologies to market. As outlined in the plan, Chrysler is putting a more immediate focus on downsizing its engines and improving fuel economy across the entire portfolio.

Chrysler

Chrysler Electric Vehicles Minivan Vehicles

Ford Begins EcoBoost Engine Production

Green Car Congress

MAY 20, 2009

Ford invested $55 million to retool and reopen the plant, which had been idled in 2007. EcoBoost technology combines turbocharging and direct gasoline injection to deliver up to 20% improved fuel economy, 15% fewer CO 2 emissions and superior driving performance compared with larger displacement engines. Click to enlarge.

Ford

Ford Engine Cleveland Production

IIHS Says Its Crash Test Study Suggests Small Cars Cant Protect People in Front-to-Front Crashes as Well as Bigger, Heavier Models

Green Car Congress

APRIL 14, 2009

Driver deaths per million 1-3-year-old cars registered, 2007. Crash statistics confirm this, the Institute said, noting that driver deaths per million 1-3-year-old minicars in multiple-vehicle crashes during 2007 was almost twice as high as the rate in very large cars. Equally clear are the implications when it comes to fuel economy.

Fuel Economy

Fuel Economy Cars MPH 2007

Renault 2010 Environment Workshop, Part 1: Combustion Engine Technology and Product Plans

Green Car Congress

JUNE 7, 2010

Renault’s ongoing downsizing strategy is aimed at reducing the cubic capacity of its engines in order to bring down fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions, without detracting from performance. The downsizing process involved shortening the piston stroke by reducing the size of the crank pin and conrod assembly. Select Engines.

Environment

Environment Engine 2010 Parts

How Carmakers Are Responding to the Plug-In Hybrid Opportunity

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

Audi Volkswagen-owned company exploring PHEVs Metroproject Quattro Sub-compact PHEV Concept Car shown October 2007; PHEV of A1 Sportback under consideration Bright Automotive For-profit spin off from Rocky Mountain Institute designing lightweight PHEVs, successor to RMIs 1990s "Hypercar" concept. Has shown some concept fuel-cell PHEVs.

Plug-in

Plug-in Plug Hybrid PHEV

EV Driven

Study Assesses Product Attribute Trade-offs and Technological Progress; Meeting Proposed Obama Fuel Economy Standards Will Require Downsizing and Change in Fleet Mix

NRC report finds significant number of near-term technologies could greatly reduce fuel consumption in passenger cars

NRC report finds Federal analysis to set LD CAFE and GHG standards generally of high quality; some technologies and issues should be re-examined

Controlled Power Technologies Packages Its Switched Reluctance Systems in ‘RegEnBoost’ System for Enhanced Support for Downsizing

National Research Council Study Finds That Available Technologies Can Result in Significant Fuel Savings for Passenger Vehicles Over the Next 15 Years, But at Higher Purchase Prices for Consumers

Full lifecycle CO2 of new Mercedes C-Class 10% less than outgoing model

EPAs GHG Standards for Light-Duty Vehicles; Special Credits To Encourage PHEVs, BEVs and FCVs

Chrysler Disbands ENVI Electric Vehicle Group; Function Absorbed into Traditional Line Organization

Ford Begins EcoBoost Engine Production

IIHS Says Its Crash Test Study Suggests Small Cars Cant Protect People in Front-to-Front Crashes as Well as Bigger, Heavier Models

Renault 2010 Environment Workshop, Part 1: Combustion Engine Technology and Product Plans

How Carmakers Are Responding to the Plug-In Hybrid Opportunity

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