Fuel-Stingy Technologies Set Sights on 54.5 MPG

[rbrowning]

An article at Design News about different ideas that tier 1 suppliers are pitching to the Detroit 3 to reach the CAFE mandates. Some have been in use around here for some time. Others will give us new toys to play with.

Design News - Captain Hybrid - Slideshow: Fuel-Stingy Technologies Set Sights on 54.5 MPG

[jamesqf]

54.5 mpg? Are they aiming in the rear-view mirror? 2000 Honda Insight, lifetime average 71.4 so far.

[fusion210]

I never considered using aluminum wiring for weight reduction. Neat!

[Daox]

James, you know what is going on here. This is CAFE, corperate average fuel economy, not 54.5 mpg is the best we can make.

[niky]

The aluminum wiring is tres neat. The slideshow is a bit redundant in some points, though... too much direct injection. I like Toyota's take, dual injector. Much like a system Nissan was proposing before as a way of getting around the need for higher injection pressures.

I've also been watching Delphi's Cam Phasers with interest for some years now.

HCCI is also a potent idea, but it's been years, and the sensors needed for the technology still cost an arm and a leg.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by fusion210

I never considered using aluminum wiring for weight reduction. Neat!

McLaren MP4-12C lost 10lbs or something like that with aluminum wiring

Better yet, aluminum wiring is dirt cheap compared to copper.

[baldlobo]

while i love all those technologies, and the fact that some of them have been around on cars for 3yrs+

aluminum wiring isn't one i'd want to repair, can't solder it; and then there's copper wire is currently more available mixing cu/al wires is not suggested.

oh and they got the fiat multi-air wrong; it's more variable hydraulic lift, still relies on a camshaft to operate.