Automotive Fuel Economy: How Far Can We Go?

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Automotive Fuel Economy: How Far Should We Go?

TABLE B–2 Costs of Fuel Economy Improvement Technologies

		Data Source and Engine Type
		EEA (1988 $)			SRI (1990 $)
TECHNOLOGY	BASELINE	4 Cyl	6 Cyl	8 Cyl	4 Cyl	6 Cyl	8 Cyl
ENGINE TECHNOLOGIES
GENERAL
Roller cam followers	Flat followers	16	24	32	65	65	65
Friction reduction, -10%	Base 1987	30	40	50	60	60	60
Accessory improvement	Conventional	12	12	12	200	200	200
Deceleration fuel restriction	None				5	5	5
Compression ratio, +.5	9:1 (EEA 4-V only)				1	1	1
FUEL SYSTEMS
Throttle-body fuel injection	Carburetor	42	70	70	65	65	65
Multipoint fuel injection	Carburetor	90	134	150	215	215	215
VALVE TRAIN
Overhead camshaft	Overhead valve	110	160	200	400	400	400
4 valves per cylinder	2 valves	140	180	225	400	400	400
Variable valve timing	Fixed timing	140	200	267	100	100	100
REDUCED NUMBER OF CYLINDERS [a]
4-cylinder	6-cylinder	0	(300)	(550)	0	(300)	(550)
6-cylinder	8-cylinder	300	0	(250)	300	0	(250)
TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGIES
Torque converter lock-up	Open converter	50	50	50	56	56	56
Electric transmission control	Hydraulic	24	24	24	122	122	122
4-speed Automatic	3-speed auto	225	225	225	230	230	230
5-speed Automatic	3-speed auto	325	325	325	530	530	530
Continuously variable transmission	3-speed auto	325	325	325	640	640	640
5-speed Manual [d]	3-speed auto
ROLLING RESISTANCE, AERODYNAMICS, AND WEIGHT
Front wheel drive	Rear wheel drive	240	240	240	26	26	26
Aerodynamics	Base	40	40	40	60	60	60
Weight reduction, -10%	Base	—varies [b] —			470	470	470
Electric power steering [c]	Conventional	45	45	45	61	61	61
Advanced tires, -10%	Base	18	18	18	20	20	20
Advanced lubricants	Conventional	2	3	3	3	3	3
[a] Reduced number of cylinders keeping engine displacement constant. Numbers in EEA columns are based on SRI. [b] Based on cost of $0.50 per pound saved (EEA, 1991a) multiplied by 10 percent of average weight of all cars in the size class. [c] Committee estimate based on price of electric power steering for Honda Civic in Japan. Source: Committee estimates based on adaptation of data from EEA (1991b), SRI (1991), and other sources.

General

This subcategory of engine technologies includes those specifically addressing friction reduction and thermodynamic efficiency, as well as certain ones that do not fit under the other subcategories—fuel systems, valve trains, and number of cylinders.

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