Increasing Fuel Efficiency by Improving Automobile Technology
There are many currently available means of improving fuel efficiency in new vehicles. These include:
- Downweighting;
- Using high efficiency tires (to reduce rolling resistance);
- Streamlining (to reduce wind resistance);
- Choosing higher efficiency fuels (i.e., diesel);
- Downsizing engines;
- Choosing manual or advanced technology transmissions (to reduce drivetrain losses); and,
- Increasing electrification (powering anything from accessories to the drivetrain).
Lighter vehicles require less energy to accelerate. This means that smaller, less powerful engines that consume less fuel can achieve the same acceleration. Also, there are several ways to reduce the weight of vehicles without reducing size, including:
Materials
Conventional steel in automobile parts can be replaced with high strength – low alloy materials without compromising vehicle safety or performance. In order to lessen the effect of rolling resistance, tires can be made with specialized tread and tire geometry. Some tire manufacturers offer high‐efficiency tires that perform as well as high performance tires, while lowering rolling resistance by 20 per cent.
Vehicle Shape
Changing the shape of your vehicle can greatly reduce wind resistance and, thus, fuel consumption. During the 1990s, automakers produced concept vehicles with 40 per cent less aerodynamic drag than conventional vehicles as part of a US government‐industry cooperative: Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles.
Fuel
Choosing a diesel engine can increase your vehicle’s fuel efficiency since the properties of diesel fuel allow it to be burned more efficiency inside an engine.
Engine Improvements
Smaller engines tend to operate closer to optimal efficiency levels during typical driving conditions. Over the last 20 years advancements in engine technology have led to significantly more powerful engines; using new engine technology can allow the downsizing of an engine without sacrificing power.
Transmission
When driven properly, manual transmission vehicles are more fuel efficient than automatic transmission vehicles. By gearing up or down according to driving conditions, drivers are able to keep their engine running in the most efficient operating range. Vehicles with more gears (fivespeed as opposed to four‐speed), will almost always provide improved fuel economy. There are new transmission innovations that can reduce energy loss from either manual or automatic transmissions and consequently reduce fuel consumption.
Battery Power
In most conventional automobiles, there is a 12 volt battery sufficient only to power some accessories and the starter motor. This means that many of your vehicle’s accessory systems, including air conditioning (A/C) are powered by the crankshaft. This effectively steals power from the engine that would otherwise be directed to the drivetrain and wheels, thus causing the engine to burn more fuel. Vehicles with higher voltage systems are supported by more powerful batteries and can run the accessories independently so the crankshaft doesn’t have to, thus minimizing the power drain on the engine.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Hybrid electric vehicles are composed of an internal combustion engine, a large battery pack and one (or more) electric motors to deliver power to the driveshaft. While hybrid vehicles integrate both forms of power, it is possible in some instances for the electric motor to displace the internal combustion engine as primary power source.
Plug‐in hybrids use a higher capacity battery that allows them to run all‐electric drive at higher speeds and for extended periods of time. Energy can also be “topped up” with external electricity (say, from a household outlet).
Everything you ever wanted to know about fuel efficiency appears in our Primer on Automobile Fuel Efficiency and Emissions. Take a look for yourself! 