CAR DESIGN FOR ECONOMY

This paper approaches car design from the standpoint of economy of fuel and of materials of manufacture. Most automobiles are designed for high performance - and as a result are grossly over-engined for their average duty, since the majority of the world's roads - urban and rural, in rich and poor countries - are suitable for only modest speeds, of the order of 80 kph or less. At such speeds the conventional spark-ignition engine is uneconomical, since in a vehicle designed to cruise at 110 kph or more the engine is so underloaded at speeds that it is throttled and inefficient. The best way to save fuel is to design for appreciably lower maximum speeds, of the order of 80 or 90 kph. Ultimately these should be international limits but as a first step a proposal is made for an economical vehicle - an 'eco-car' - designed for a maximum speed of 80 or 90 kph. Eco-cars could be promoted by government action, e.g. tax concessions, to encourage manufacturers to develop them for a world market. The paper examines the possible consequences of wide use of such vehicles, including the importance of weight saving, the effects of lower speeds, alternative power plants, and the effect on automobile manufacture. /Author/TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  International Federation of Auto Techniques Engs

  3 Avenue du President Wilson
  F 75116 Paris,   France 
• Authors:
  • WILSON, S S
  • Tee, NDC
• Publication Date: 0

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 1 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Conferences; Costs; Design; Energy; Energy conservation; Fuel consumption; Manufactures; Manufacturing; Materials; Motors; Propulsion; Speed; Vehicle design; Vehicle power plants; Weight
• Old TRIS Terms: Automobile engines
• ITRD Terms: 8525: Conference; 224: Cost; 9011: Design (overall design); 212: Energy conservation; 3647: Manufacture; 1334: Motor; 3873: Propulsion; 5408: Speed; 5485: Weight
• Subject Areas: Design; Economics; Energy; Environment; Finance; Highways; Materials; Safety and Human Factors; Society; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00163337
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: Analytic
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 12 1978 12:00AM