article thumbnail

Lux Research: battery electric vehicles will be less reliant on lightweighting by 2030

Green Car Congress

Lightweighting has been a key tool for improving the fuel economy of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles over the past years. Platform design: BEVs are increasingly being designed around shared rolling frames or platforms that contain the batteries, drive systems, and in some cases structural elements of the cars.

article thumbnail

Shell/AirFlow Starship hyper-fuel efficient Class 8 truck to make cross-country run

Green Car Congress

Shell has partnered with the Airflow Truck Company to collaborate on a hyper-aerodynamic, fuel-efficient Class 8 concept truck: Starship. This next-generation concept truck features a custom, aerodynamic design and aims to demonstrate improvements in fuel economy for Class 8 trucks. and ending in Jacksonville, Fla.

San Diego 281
article thumbnail

DOE issues $10M incubator FOA for batteries, power electronics, engines, materials, fuels and lubricants

Green Car Congress

VTO is seeking projects that address the major challenges to developing and commercializing batteries for plug?in energy batteries. ion batteries is approximately four times too high on a kWh basis; current batteries are two to three times too heavy and large, and high? Carbon Fiber or Lightweight Materials.

article thumbnail

GM CEO outlines highlights of fuel economy plan through MY2016: lightweighting; more efficient gasoline and clean diesel engines, electrification

Green Car Congress

Within his talk about the need for a US energy policy at the IHS CERAWeek 2013 energy conference in Houston, GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson outlined some highlights of the company’s fuel economy plan through the 2016 model year. A good rule of thumb is that a 10% reduction in curb weight will reduce fuel consumption by about 6.5%.

article thumbnail

Agility launches fifth-generation ProRail CNG fuel systems

Green Car Congress

The ProRail is known for its lightweight and durable design, utilizing carbon fiber composite TUFFSHELL ACF Type 4 CNG cylinders. The Agility BlueiQ Smart Gauge is also now standard equipment on the ProRail, reducing range anxiety by providing real-time fuel economy, fuel level, and distance to empty.

Fuel 243
article thumbnail

Ford introduces Lightweight Concept vehicle to showcase ongoing light-weighting and advanced materials work; nearly 25% weight reduction

Green Car Congress

Ford engineers took a holistic approach to weight reduction by incorporating advanced materials into the entire design of the vehicle, including powertrain, chassis, body, battery ( earlier post ) and interior features such as seats. 19” by 5” carbon fiber wheels. Carbon fiber interior components.

article thumbnail

DOE awards $17M to FY 2014 SBIR Phase II projects; includes Si/graphene anodes, motor windings, exhaust treatments

Green Car Congress

The reduced fuel consumption will extend the effective range of the turbo vehicle. By the end of Phase II, Mainstream plans to demonstrate a production-ready prototype that exceeds DOE targets for fuel economy, operating range, and cost. Low-Cost, High-Energy Si/Graphene Anodes for Li-Ion Batteries. Nextech Materials.

Exhaust 261