The 2^nd edition of this title has been expanded with additional material to provide more basic understanding of the new technologies associated with vehicle fuel efficiency.

 

      Current fuel economy standards are 27.5 mpg for cars and 23.5 mpg for trucks.  Final rules for new standards starting with the 2016 model year establish a national average of 34.1 mpg for all passenger cars and light trucks sold in the US, with cars expected to average about 39 mpg and trucks 30 mpg.

 

      The increases are substantial.  Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stated:  “These historic new standards set ambitious but achievable fuel economy requirements for the automotive industry that will also encourage new and emerging technologies".

 

      The fact is that the auto industry has already made a substantial leap to an exciting new age of vehicle technologies.  This was made possible by advances in integrated electronic control of engine, drivetrain and chassis systems.  For example; direct fuel injection, variable cam phasing and lift and cylinder deactivation for gasoline engines, as well as dual-clutch transmissions and gas-electric hybrids powertrains.  These have resulted in performance and fuel efficiency increases.  Several vehicles equipped with one or more of these technologies are already in production.

     

      Small displacement turbocharged engines with power outputs that exceed that of older engines with twice the displacement are being released.  Diesel engines, with inherently high fuel efficiency are getting increasingly refined, as well as components of gas electric hybrids such as batteries.