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

Green Car Congress

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have quantified the fuel economy effects of some common driver practices and vehicle accessories or alterations—including underinflated tires, open windows, and rooftop and hitch-mounted cargo. liter four-cylinder engine, also suffered as its fuel economy dipped 22% from 42.5

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

Green Car Congress

to 2 ratio points and maintain the same knock limit for an additional 3-4% improvement in fuel economy. It avoids pumping work through the turbocharger to improve fuel economy, and by phasing the two cams, the lobes, relative to each other we can actually modulate boost. Source: Borgwarner. Click to enlarge.

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Road Test: 2022 Kia Carnival SX

Clean Fleet Report

Goodbye To the Minivan. Kia is out of the minivan business and is shaking up things with the all-new 2022 Carnival. The Korean car company will remind you it is not a minivan but an MPV or Multi-Purpose Vehicle. With those words it hopes to remove the stigma of people saying “I will never own a minivan.”. Drivetrain.

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Road Test: 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid

Clean Fleet Report

All-New, All-Hybrid Family-Friendly Minivan. To further its electrification commitment, Toyota has released two 2021 hybrid-only models–the Venza crossover and the Sienna minivan. Next up for 2021 is the all-new Sienna Hybrid minivan, which previously was powered only by a gasoline V6. Smooth power and excellent fuel economy.

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Road Test: 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Limited Plug-in Hybrid

Clean Fleet Report

Chrysler calls it a “multipurpose vehicle,” but we will stick with modern minivan. The EPA rates fuel economy, when using the hybrid gasoline-only engine at 30 miles per gallon. This is excellent fuel economy for a 5,010-pound nicely styled shoe box. The only minivan with a plug. How It Works.

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Chrysler Group withdraws test PHEV fleet to upgrade battery packs after overheating issues; to use a different chemistry

Green Car Congress

No similar issues have occurred with 23 plug-in hybrid minivans deployed as part of a parallel project (also with Electrovaya batteries, ( earlier post ). A primary goal of the final phase of the program is to determine how reverse power-flow might reduce the operating costs of commercial fleets. mpg, while the minivans delivered 55.0

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Road Test: 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid

Clean Fleet Report

If you are one of those “I will never drive a minivan” type of persons, please keep reading. When Clean Fleet Report first reviewed the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid in 2017, it was the only electrified minivan on the market. But the landscape has changed since 2017 as the 2021 Toyota Sienna minivan is now a hybrid. Ready to ride.