It is obvious that gas mileage is affecting Americans negatively all across the nation. With that said the White House and automakers have signed a plan to increase automakers’ corporate average fuel economy to 54.5 mpg by 2025. However, considering where we are at now, how will this be possible?

Forbes has devised a list of ten ways to increase gas mileage. These ten ways include weight reduction, slipperier aerodynamics, turbocharging and direct fuel injection, variable cylinder management, automatic stop-start, mild electrifications, electric power steering, regenerative breaking, advanced transmissions, and diesel power. (Gorzelany, Jim)

Weight reduction seems to be at the top of the list for many manufacturers. The major way to tackle this is by creating aluminum bodies for the cars. Even though aluminum is harder to weld, it is significantly lighter than the usual steel used to make cars. Other way to solving this problem include removing spare tires, replaces much of the interior with a lighter plastic and making the size of each vehicle on a smaller scale. (“Popular Articles”)

Slipperier aerodynamics involves wind resistance. Forbes states, “Cars that are designed with a lower so-called coefficient of drag allow the air to slip around them more efficiently, meaning their engines require less power to reach and maintain higher speeds.” This would be extremely useful on high ways and driving at higher speeds.

Turbocharging and direct fuel injection sound a bit frightening, but they are extremely useful in increasing mpg’s. Direct fuel injection is injecting fuel into each of an engine’s cylinders at a great pressure. This alone is said to boost fuel economy of by 2 or 3 percent. A turbocharger forces additional air into an engine’s cylinders to boost power. Both work together to increase efficiency. (Gorzelany, Jim)

Variable cylinder management is the alternation of the amount of cylinders the vehicle uses to run on at different speeds. For example, Honda seems to be leading the automotive world with this technological advancement. They have recently come up with new V-6 3.0 liter i-VTEC (intelligent VTEC) technology. This allows for a car to run on all six cylinders during acceleration and to only run on three cylinders during cruising. This lowers fuel consumption and drastically decreases exhaust emissions. (“Honda Introduces…”)

Automatic stop-start in cars has reported to boost a car’s mileage by 15 percent! Forbes explains, “This function automatically shuts down a vehicle’s engine during deceleration and while stopped to preserve fuel. It starts the engine up again immediately once the driver lifts off on the brake pedal.” (Gorzelany, Jim) This seems to be a simple innovation that could save us so much!

We already know that electricity is more efficient than gas, considering the advances in hybrid vehicles. Even so, Forbes states, “Adding a small electric motor to a conventional gasoline engine boosts both its available power and its fuel economy.” (Gorzelany, Jim) Why this hasn’t been done sooner, seems absurd. We have the technology to add electricity into common vehicles, and should be done as soon as possible!

Electric power steering seems like something cars already have. Even though it has been done already in many vehicles, it certainly increases fuel efficiency. Even if the improvement it slight, electric power steering, decreases the drag on the vehicle’s engine. Bringing all cars up to date on this technology will certainly help. (Gorzelany, Jim)

Advanced transmissions allow, “lower gears are able to deliver more power to launch the vehicle from a stop, while higher gears require less power at cruising speeds than a typical five-speed automatic.” (Gorzelany, Jim) Clearly less power is used to move the vehicle farther, which in turn saves a lot.

Diesel fuel is last major way automotive inductries are using to increase gas mileage. Diesel-fuel is safer, cleaner, and more efficient than the regular gasoline. Many manufacturers are creating vehicles that get more mpg’s than a lot of the hybrids. (Gorzelany, Jim).

With all these ideas and plans already being made, a 54.5 mpg by 2025 seems a little more accessible. Not only with this decrease costs for consumers but it will surely benefit our environment as well.

Sources:

Gorzelany, Jim. “How to Build a Car That Gets 54.5 MPG.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 01 Aug. 2011. Web.

01 Mar. 2013. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimgorzelany/2011/08/01/how-to-build-a-car-

that-gets-54-5-mpg/>.

“Honda Introduces Variable Cylinder Management V-6.” Motor Trend Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar.

2013. <http://www.motortrend.com/auto_news/news_030618_hon/>.

“Popular Articles.” Weight Reduction and Lightening a Car to Increase Performance. N.p., n.d. Web. 01

Mar. 2013. <http://www.torquecars.com/tuning/car-lightening.php>.