article thumbnail

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid PHEV minivan EPA-rated at 84 MPGe in electric-only mode; role of eFlite dual-motor/one-way clutch strategy

Green Car Congress

No other minivan has ever come close to this rating. (As In addition, the EPA gave the all-new minivan a rating of 10 in its Green Vehicle Guide. This marks the first time a minivan has achieved a 10—the highest possible rating—in this category. The MSRP of the non-hybrid Pacifica minivan is $28,595.

Minivan 150
article thumbnail

BorgWarner suggests Valve-Event Modulated Boost system can offer 6-17% fuel economy benefit over already downsized and turbocharged engines

Green Car Congress

The VEMB system uses a concentric camshaft, blow-down manifold and scavenge manifold to separate the exhaust event into two phases: high-energy blow-down to the turbo without pumping losses, and high-hydrocarbon scavenge to the EGR system. SUV/Minivan) compared to about 5% with conventional cylinder deactivations, and about 7.2%

article thumbnail

ORNL study quantifies fuel economy costs of common driver practices and vehicle alterations

Green Car Congress

In addition, two minivans were subjected to coastdowns to examine the similarity in derived coefficients for two duplicate vehicles of the same model. The SUV, a 2009 Ford Explorer with a 4-liter V6 engine, was also tested while towing an enclosed trailer. This may happen, for example, when a vehicle is pulling a heavy boat up a hill.

article thumbnail

ORNL researchers quantify the effect of increasing highway speed on fuel economy

Green Car Congress

The study includes various sizes of sedans, wagons, and SUVs, as well as pickup trucks, minivans and a few “muscle” and sports cars. Analysis has focused on speeds of 50, 60, 70 and 80 mph. [ 1 ] The data resulting from these tests simulates steady highway cruising on flat roads at moderate temperatures (SAE J2263, J2264). Footnotes. [

article thumbnail

Achates OPGCI project targeting 50% fuel efficiency gains over downsized GDI engine at reduced cost

Green Car Congress

liter opposed-piston, gasoline compression ignition engine applicable to large passenger vehicles, pick-up trucks, SUVs and minivans. At idle and low loads, rebreathing of hot exhaust gases provided stable compression ignition with very low engine-out NO x and PM emissions. displacements, said Redon. Earlier post.). and Headley, J.,

article thumbnail

Achates Power building 2.7L opposed-piston light-duty engine; exceeding CAFE 2025, Tier 3 targets at lower cost

Green Car Congress

Achates has demonstrated the ability to achieve exceptionally high exhaust gas temperatures at idle—much beyond what can be done with equivalent 4-stroke engines. The intake ports at one end of the cylinder and exhaust ports at the other are opened by the piston motion and enable efficient uniflow air scavenging. Earlier post.).

Light 150
article thumbnail

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

Green Car Congress

—“Assessment of Technologies” Resources. An important attribute of improvements in SI engine technologies is that they offer a means of reducing fuel consumption in relatively small, incremental steps. Assessment of Technologies for Improving Light Duty Vehicle Fuel Economy. National Academies Press, 2011).

Fuel 210