IMPROVING FUEL ECONOMY: A CASE STUDY OF THE 1992 HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACKS

Since the early 1980s, U.S. automobile makers and policy makers have resisted policies to increase automobile fuel economy, arguing in part that such increases were neither technically feasible nor economically justified. Such assertions for the 1992 Honda Civic hatchbacks are analyzed. With the 1992 Honda Civic model line, an automobile maker has, for the first time, produced cars that are virtually identical to the previous year's models in size, vehicle amenity, engine power, and performance, but that offer substantially increased fuel economy and improved safety. The cost of improving fuel economy is assessed using actual retail prices, after correcting for differences in cosmetic features. Calculations indicate that the efficiency of the 1991 Civic DX was improved by 56% from 1991 to 1992 at a cost per conserved liter of gasoline that is $.20/L ($0.77/gal), or 30% less than the levelized gasoline price without externalities or taxes. In addition, a comparison of two other Civic models indicates that fuel economy was improved in the 1992 versions at no additional cost. Virtually all of the efficiency increases described here were achieved through measures that do not affect safety or vehicle size, such as engine modifications, transmission alterations, and drag reduction.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1993/1416/1416-014.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=IMPROVING+FUEL+ECONOMY%3A+A+CASE+STUDY+OF+THE+1992+HONDA+CIVIC+HATCHBACKS&author=J.+Koomey&author=D.+Schechter&author=D.+Gordon&publication_year=1993
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309055636
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1416, Environmental Analysis, Air quality, Noise, Energy, and Alternative Fuels. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Koomey, Jonathan G
  • Schechter, Deborah E
  • Gordon, Deborah
• Publication Date: 1993

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 115-123
• Monograph Title: Environmental analysis, air quality, noise, energy and alternative fuels
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1416
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Drag; Fuel conservation; Improvements; Transmissions; Vehicle design
• Identifier Terms: Honda automobile; Honda Civic
• Old TRIS Terms: Drag reduction; Engine modification
• Subject Areas: Design; Energy; Finance; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00643520
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309055636
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 1 1994 12:00AM