REDUCTION OF FUEL CONSUMPTION AND POLLUTANT EMISSIONS IN VEHICLES - A SWITCH TO OPTIMIZED VEHICLES AS A FUNCTION OF THEIR USE

Trends in cars available on the European market are analysed with respect to range changes, evolution within ranges, and evolution of the whole sets of car models made by manufacturers. A table analyses the evolution of medium cars sold in seven European countries from 1980 to 1990. Engine capacity and actual power steadily increased, and average fuel consumption per unit distance decreased until 1985 but not beyond that date. Conditions allowing significant reduction of fuel consumption could be reached, without developing new technologies, by: (1) reducing the mass of each range of vehicles by 100-200kg; (2) installing smaller and less powerful engines; and (3) limiting theoretical maximum speed to 160kph. Risk per km travelled is analysed as a function of vehicle mass, power per tonne, and driver age (below or above 30). Although heavier vehicles are often considered safer, the best passive safety comes from controlling the deformations and decelerations to which passengers are subjected. Due to progress during the last ten years, it is feasible to develop, without much decrease of comfort or safety, a medium-sized car of mass 750-850kg, fuel consumption 4.6-5.5 litres per 100km, and top speed 160kph, or a 'down market' car of mass 450-610kg, fuel consumption 2.8-3.5 litres per 100km, and top speed 150kph. For the covering abstract, see IRRD 886884.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9264148205
• Corporate Authors:

  Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

  2, rue André Pascal
  Paris,   France  75775 Paris Cedex 16
• Authors:
  • DELSEY, J
• Publication Date: 1996

Language

• Undetermined

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 133-40
• Serial:
  • TOWARDS CLEAN TRANSPORT. FUEL-EFFICIENT AND CLEAN MOTOR VEHICLES. CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY THE OECD AND THE IEA. HOSTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO
  • Publisher: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Automobiles; Conferences; Fuel consumption; Hazards; Pollutants; Safety; Speed; Trend (Statistics); Weight
• Uncontrolled Terms: Decreases
• Geographic Terms: Europe
• ITRD Terms: 2452: Air pollution; 1243: Car; 8525: Conference; 9009: Decrease; 2442: Emission; 8034: Europe; 232: Fuel consumption; 2431: Pollutant; 9150: Risk; 1665: Safety; 5408: Speed; 6515: Trend (stat); 5485: Weight
• Subject Areas: Energy; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00733049
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 92-64-14820-5
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Mar 24 1997 12:00AM