The Trade-off between Automobile Acceleration Performance, Weight, and Fuel Consumption

Lynette W. Cheah; Anup P. Bandivadekar; Kristian M. Bodek; Emmanuel P. Kasseris; John B. Heywood

doi:10.4271/2008-01-1524

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The Trade-off between Automobile Acceleration Performance, Weight, and Fuel Consumption

Journal article

Peer reviewed

The Trade-off between Automobile Acceleration Performance, Weight, and Fuel Consumption

Lynette W. Cheah, Anup P. Bandivadekar, Kristian M. Bodek, Emmanuel P. Kasseris and John B. Heywood

SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants, Vol.1(1), pp.771-777

2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4271/2008-01-1524

Abstract

fuel consumption

technical review

fleets

vehicle acceleration

This paper evaluates how the fuel consumption of the average new U.S. passenger car will be penalized if engine and vehicle improvements continue to be focused on developing bigger, heavier and more powerful automobiles. We quantify a parameter called the Emphasis on Reducing Fuel Consumption (ERFC) and find that there has been little focus on improving fuel consumption in the U.S. over the past twenty years. In contrast, Europe has seen significantly higher ERFC. By raising the ERFC over the next few decades, we can reduce the average U.S. new car's fuel consumption by up to some 40 percent and cut the light-duty vehicle fleet's fuel use by about a quarter. Achieving substantial fuel use reduction will remain a major challenge if automobile size, weight and power continue to dominate.

Details

Title: The Trade-off between Automobile Acceleration Performance, Weight, and Fuel Consumption
Authors: Lynette W. Cheah - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Anup P. Bandivadekar - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Kristian M. Bodek - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Emmanuel P. Kasseris - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
John B. Heywood - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Publication details: SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants, Vol.1(1), pp.771-777
Publisher: S A E Inc.
Date published: 2009
DOI: 10.4271/2008-01-1524
ISSN: 1946-3960
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991029389202621
Output Type: Journal article