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NYC study of actual fuel economy of fleet finds hybrids more fuel efficient as compared to conventional vehicles than expected

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Using telematics, NYC Fleet, part of New York City’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), recently analyzed actual fuel economy in its hybrid and non-hybrid vehicles and compared it to the EPA ratings for each make and model. This system has improved the ability to report on use-based fuel economy per vehicle.

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UGA study finds black carbon aerosols from GDI engines will worsen public health, climate; need for GPFs

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The gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine is one of the most prominent technologies car manufacturers adopted to achieve the fuel economy and carbon dioxide emission goals established in 2012 by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA projects 93% of vehicles in the U.S. in model year 2008 to 51% in model year 2018.

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CMU study shows autonomous vehicle algorithms can have considerable effect on fuel economy; need for new approaches in testing

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Autonomous vehicle driving behavior can have a considerable effect on fuel economy. However, the study also showed that autonomous vehicle (AV) technology following algorithms designed without considering efficiency can degrade fuel economy by up to 3%.

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Study finds that increased vehicle travel and decreased occupancy have undercut the impact of improving fuel economy over last 40 years

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Sivak found that while the vehicle fuel economy of the entire light-duty fleet improved by 40% (from 13 mpg US to 21.6 l/100km), because of the decrease in vehicle load, the occupant fuel economy only improved by 17% (from 24.8 l/100km), because of the decrease in vehicle load, the occupant fuel economy only improved by 17% (from 24.8

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CMU study highlights lower-cost design path to fuel economy compliance: acceleration trade-off

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A team at Carnegie Mellon University has found that engineering design modifications that compromise other performance attributes—specifically acceleration—offer a pathway to reduce the cost to automakers of compliance with fuel economy standards. Their paper is published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.

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EDAG study finds aluminum BIW can deliver mass savings of 35-40% over steel; fuel economy boost

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A new study by EDAG Group, commissioned by the Aluminum in Transportation Group of the US Aluminum Association, finds that an all-aluminum body in white (BIW) can deliver potential mass savings in the 35 – 40% range over a base steel BIW. Aluminum materials used in the study will be “current technology” only. Click to enlarge.

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Indiana U study suggests cost-effectiveness of EPA air quality regs more uncertain than commonly believed

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The US EPA estimates that its air pollution regulations save thousands of lives annually. A new study by researchers at Indiana University suggests the estimates are more uncertain than commonly accepted. An open-access paper on their study appear in the Journal of Cost-Benefit Analysis. Researchers Kerry Krutilla, David H.

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