Vehicle performance fuel improvement

In fact in Europe, where customers place a higher value on fuel economy, diesels now account for about 40 percent of new vehicle sales. For the Chrysler Group of DaimlerChrysler, the number is closer to 66 percent. If Chrysler had the same diesel penetration in its U.S. fleet as it has in Europe, its CAFE performance would improve by about four miles per gallon. If the entire U.S. light duty fleet had the same diesel penetration as Europe, total U.S. fuel consumption could be reduced by about one million barrels per day, and C02 emissions could be reduced by almost 200 million tons per year. 

Use knowledge/experienee gained to improve overall H-ICE effieieney. This will be accomplished by further research on the engine/vehicle performance (increase power, fuel economy and reduce NO emissions). 

Alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies for improved environmental performance Towards zero carbon transportation... 

The performance of the vehicles has also improved. In 2010, Daimler stated that its current FGV had a stack hfetime of 110000 km, and projected that this would improve to 250 000 km by 2020 [4]. GM similarly predicts a lifetime of 200 000 km and 5500 h [3]. Further, a 2010 study by a consortium of over 30 stakeholders from various industries concluded that current FGVs display performance, ranges and refuehng times comparable to those of conventional vehicles on the market today, and that the total cost of ownership for aU powertrains studied [internal combustion engine (IGE) vehicles, fuel cell vehicles (EGVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs)] are expected to converge by 2025 [5]. 

U.S. automotive histoiyi reveals a fairly continuous improvement in both performance and fuel economy, but the relative interest in each is influenced by externalities. Wlien gasoline is plentiful and inexpensive, the consumer is more interested in performance and/or larger vehicles, both of which tend to decrease fuel economy. During the /Uab oil shocks of the 1970s, when the gasoline supply was stifled and driv-... 

Advances in materials science have been a leading factor contributing to improvements in vehicle fuel economy and performance since the 1973 oil embargo. Better tire materials have reduced rolling resistance, better materials for moving parts have reduced friction, and most importantly lighter body parts have reduced the overall weight of vehicles. 

The challenges in this process are significant. Gasoline-fueled (and diesel-fueled) vehicles powered by internal combustion engines (ICEs) won the market competition over other motive systems and their performance has since been improved and refined for more than 100 years. Furthermore, a vast infrastructure has been established that manufactures, maintains, and fuels the current vehicular fleet in the United States. 

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