Research: Passenger car fuel efficiency - technologies and trends to 2015
Date published: Friday, June 06, 2008
Description
The automotive industry is currently coming under intense pressure to reduce the CO2 emissions that result from the combustion of fossil fuels. This report examines the technologies that are being developed to improve fuel efficiency in passenger cars. It also analyses the market and legislative influences that are driving developments in the sector.
Table of contents:
INTRODUCTION
MARKET DRIVERS
Regulations
- Europe
- The United States
- Japan
- Other countries
Incentives
Consumer preferences
MARKET BARRIERS
Cost
- Europe
- The United States
Market mix
- Europe
- The United States
The growing global vehicle fleet
Supply and infrastructure issues
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS
Engines
- Supercharging
- Variable valve operation
- Direct fuel injection
- Miller/Atkinson combustion cycles
- Stratified charge combustion
- Controlled auto-ignition
- Homogeneous charge compression ignition
- Spark plugs
- Variable geometry
- Radical designs
- Idle-stop
- Cylinder deactivation
Hybrids
- Electric hybrids
- Plug-in hybrids
- Pneumatic hybrids
- Hydraulic hybrids
- Kinetic hybrids
Electric vehicles
- Batteries
Fuel cell vehicles
Efficient ancillaries
Integrated starter alternator damper
Belt-driven alternator starter
Power steering
Transmissions
- Manuals and automated manuals
- Planetary automatics
- Continuously-variable transmissions
- Market forecasts
Weight reduction
- Steel
- Cast iron
- Aluminium
- Magnesium
- Plastics
- Hybrid construction
Aerodynamics
Lighting
Tyres
- Low rolling resistance
- Tyre pressure monitoring systems
Driver aids
