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Today's car manufacturers are working constantly to create more fuel efficient vehicles. As a result of their efforts, PNGV (The Partnership For A New Generation Of Vehicles) was formed. PNGV is a cooperative collaborative research and development program between the U.S. Government and the U.S. Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) which is made up of the auto partners — Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors. PNGV's long-term goal is to develop vehicles that will deliver up to three times greater fuel efficiency (80 miles per gallon) and cost no more to own and operate than today's vehicles.
1. Enhance manufacturing productivity and competitiveness. 2. Improve the fuel efficiency of conventional vehicles through ongoing research 3. Develop and pursue technologies to achieve a vehicle with up to 3 times the fuel efficiency of today's comparable vehicle The USCAR members are using new technologies to develop concept vehicles by the year 2000 with production prototypes by the year 2005. For example, Ford Motor Co. recently showed off a new concept car at the Ford Proving Grounds in Dearborn, Mich. . . . The P2000 concept car is constructed of aluminum instead of steel parts making a much lighter weight vehicle (2,000 pounds). A P2000 powered by a conventional 2-liter engine gets up to 35 miles a gallon compared with 28 miles to the gallon on a Taurus GL. General Motors hope for an exciting fuel efficient concept car is the GMUltralite. The Ultralite is being designed as a car with "above-average aerodynamics and fuel economy, and below average weight." Designing a car that has the capability of converting gas to hydrogen is a breakthrough technology for The Chrysler Corporation. All three car manufacturers have environmental testing labs to assist in the creation of the best fuel efficient vehicles possible. Are todays consumer aware of the need for fuel-efficient cars? The Environmental Protection Agency released its automobile fuel economy findings for the 1997 vehicles today, it's clear the drive toward greater fuel efficiency is on hold — or moving backward, say fuel conservation advocates. The recent craze for the gas guzzling Sport Utility Vehicle is one indication that consumers are more interested in the look and status of a car than actual fuel efficiency. If the fuel-efficient cars of the future are to be embraced by the public, car manufacturers must create the vehicles with eye appeal, comfort and reliability. Public awareness of the effects of fuel powered vehicles on the air also need to be greatly increased. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article The Future Fuel Efficient Vehicle in Cars is owned by Kathy Ratay. Permission to republish The Future Fuel Efficient Vehicle in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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