List of ecomods automakers can use, ranked by cost/effectiveness

[MetroMPG]

ABG posted an article with an interesting list of mods that new car makers are looking at to improve efficiency.

The interesting bit is they're ranked by cost and effectiveness.

The figures were compiled by the U.S. NRC (national research council):

SI Techs  ...................... AVG Incremental Cost  ... Avg Cost for 
                                                           1% Improvement in 
                                                           Fuel Consumption

Low Viscosity Lubricants  ...................... $6 .......... $12.00
VVT-Coupled Cam Phasing (CCP), OHV  ............ $53 ......... $21.00
Variable Stroke HVAC  .......................... $80 ......... $22.86
Turbocharging and Downsizing  .................. $129 ........ $25.80
Low Rolling Resistance Tires  .................. $40 ......... $26.67
Aerodynamics 5%-10%  ........................... $45 ......... $30.00
Electric/Hydraulic Power Steering  ............. $95 ......... $31.67
Valve Event Manipulation  ...................... $52 ......... $34.67
7 Speed Transmission  .......................... $235 ........ $39.17
VVT-Coupled Cam Phasing (CCP), SOHC  ........... $105 ........ $42.00
VVT-Dual Cam Phasing (DCP)  .................... $105 ........ $46.67
Dual Clutch Transmission  ...................... $350 ........ $46.67
Continuous Variable Transmission  .............. $207 ........ $51.63
8 Speed Transmission  .......................... $425 ........ $60.71
Valve Event Manipulation (Variable Value Lift) . $760 ........ $69.09
VVT-Intake Cam Phasing (ICP)  .................. $105 ........ $70.00
Cylinder Deactivation, OHV  .................... $353 ........ $70.50
Engine Friction Reduction  ..................... $95 ......... $75.60
Continuously Variable Valve Lift (CVVL)  ....... $450 ........ $90.00
Mass Reduction 5%  ............................. $297 ........ $91.38
Mass Reduction 10%  ............................ $713 ........ $109.69
Cylinder Deactivation, SOHC  ................... $555 ........ $111.00
Full Hybrid  ................................... $6,000 ...... $127.66
Discrete Variable Valve Lift (DVVL), SOHC/DOHC . $293 ........ $130.00
Mass Reduction 20%  ............................ $1,600 ...... $133.33
Stoichiometric Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) . $319 ........ $141.78
Conversion from SI to CI  ...................... $5,900 ...... $159.46
Stop/Start Hybrid  ............................. $885 ........ $221.25

Full article: At Witz' End - Comparing costs and benefits of fuel-saving technologies — Autoblog Green

[Daox]

Very interesting.

[Daox]

I did a bit of math, and here is what the report says the following technologies are worth MPG wise.

Low Viscosity Lubricants  ...................... $6 .......... $12.00 ...   0.5%
VVT-Coupled Cam Phasing (CCP), OHV  ............ $53 ......... $21.00 ...   2.5%
Variable Stroke HVAC  .......................... $80 ......... $22.86 ...   3.5%
Turbocharging and Downsizing  .................. $129 ........ $25.80 ...   5.0%
Low Rolling Resistance Tires  .................. $40 ......... $26.67 ...   1.5%
Aerodynamics 5%-10%  ........................... $45 ......... $30.00 ...   1.5%
Electric/Hydraulic Power Steering  ............. $95 ......... $31.67 ...   3.0%
Valve Event Manipulation  ...................... $52 ......... $34.67 ...   1.5%
7 Speed Transmission  .......................... $235 ........ $39.17 ...   6.0%
VVT-Coupled Cam Phasing (CCP), SOHC  ........... $105 ........ $42.00 ...   2.5%
VVT-Dual Cam Phasing (DCP)  .................... $105 ........ $46.67 ...   2.25%
Dual Clutch Transmission  ...................... $350 ........ $46.67 ...   7.5%
Continuous Variable Transmission  .............. $207 ........ $51.63 ...   4.0%
8 Speed Transmission  .......................... $425 ........ $60.71 ...   7.0%
Valve Event Manipulation (Variable Value Lift) . $760 ........ $69.09 ...  11.0%
VVT-Intake Cam Phasing (ICP)  .................. $105 ........ $70.00 ...   1.5%
Cylinder Deactivation, OHV  .................... $353 ........ $70.50 ...   5.0%
Engine Friction Reduction  ..................... $95 ......... $75.60 ...   1.25%
Continuously Variable Valve Lift (CVVL)  ....... $450 ........ $90.00 ...   5.0%
Mass Reduction 5%  ............................. $297 ........ $91.38 ...   3.25%
Mass Reduction 10%  ............................ $713 ........ $109.69 ...  6.5%
Cylinder Deactivation, SOHC  ................... $555 ........ $111.00 ...  5.0%
Full Hybrid  ................................... $6,000 ...... $127.66 ... 47.0%
Discrete Variable Valve Lift (DVVL), SOHC/DOHC . $293 ........ $130.00 ...  2.25%
Mass Reduction 20%  ............................ $1,600 ...... $133.33 ... 12.0%
Stoichiometric Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) . $319 ........ $141.78 ...  2.0%
Conversion from SI to CI  ...................... $5,900 ...... $159.46 ... 37.0%
Stop/Start Hybrid  ............................. $885 ........ $221.25 ...  4.0%

[some_other_dave]

Driving style changes: 50% MPG improvement / $0 = infinite return per cost.

-soD

[euromodder]

What does
Conversion from SI to CI
mean ?

[RobertSmalls]

SI = spark ignition, CI = compression ignition (diesel).

Replacing a sedan with a smaller hatchback, or an SUV with a smaller wagon or minivan, is an item with NEGATIVE cost and positive return. The above mods are mostly cumulative with vehicle downsizing and driving style.

It should be noted the above tables are based on cost to the consumer. If they're charging $6000 more for a full hybrid, they're making quite a bit more money.

I bet "inflation to sidewall max" and "grille block" would be at the top of the list. I wonder where a variable grille block would land.

[ecofreak]

Originally Posted by euromodder

What does
Conversion from SI to CI
mean ?

Gasoline to Diesel engine conversion. Gasoline engines can run diesel as long as the pistons are comparatively stronger, the fuel injection system being solenoid powered, and a few other parts which had been made to be just over their tolerance to internal combustion in gasoline.

I really don't understand how you could derive these costs. Things like these have to cost little to nothing when in the near (to the point of near unlawful) vertical monopoly that is a car industry. Take Fuji heavy industries, for example. They already own the machines required to manufacture car parts like this, and have enough money invested in their respective raw materials' futures, so they always get an agreeable price on the raw materials, and the cost of each part would therefore remain low and constant.

[gone-ot]

...the current move toward SIDI (spark ignition direct injection) engines isn't shown, but typically yields about 7-11% FE increase.

[Weather Spotter]

I see a source for some wiki data!

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

SI = spark ignition, CI = compression ignition (diesel).

Then the cost of diesels is exagerated.
We don't pay US $ 5900 (4650 EUR) more for a comparable diesel engine.

Replacing a sedan with a smaller hatchback, or an SUV with a smaller wagon or minivan, is an item with NEGATIVE cost and positive return. The above mods are mostly cumulative with vehicle downsizing and driving style.

The cost for mass reduction, obviously only applies when trying to produce an equally large and powerful car with 5 to 20% less weight.

When building a smaller car, its weight will be less by default.