THE STRETCH FOR BETTER PASSENGER CAR FUEL ECONOMY: A CRITICAL LOOK (I).

Abstract

SUBTITLE: A "BUILDING BLOCK" APPROACH EXAMINES THE RELATIVE INFLUENCES OF KEY PARAMETERS RESPONSIBLE FOR VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY -- THESE INCLUDE POWERTRAIN EFFICIENCY, VEHICLE MASS, AERODYNAMIC DRAG, AND ROLLING RESISTANCE, ACCESSORY LOAD, AND THE RECOVERY OF BRAKING ENERGY: IT WAS FOUND THAT FOR REASONABLE LEVELS OF THE OTHER PARAMETERS, THE ENGINE EFFICIENCY REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE 80 MPG PNGV FUEL-ECONOMY TARGET WILL BE A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE.