Two contintents at very different stages of fuel economy development.
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Prime movers in drivetrain research Image: TMC |
In the US, the Department of Energy (DOE) has announced potential investment of close to $3m in research, led by the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI to develop technologies linked to connected and automated vehicles (CAV).
The research will focus on creating optimal algorithms and other connected vehicle technologies to help define the future of powertrain development and vehicle dynamics. The long-term aim is to further reduce emissions and optimise vehicle and powertrain efficiency - information that could be vital for the lubricants industry.
SwRI will use the new Toyota Prius Prime to carry out the eco-driving research.
Meanwhile in India, draft regulations for measuring auto-makers' compliance with new passenger car fuel consumption standards have come under fire. India's Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has criticised the new regulations for containing loopholes that allow a less robust approach by manufacturers to the rules.
India is set to introduce fuel economy 'norms' in 2017-18 and 2022-23, the last major vehicle-producing nation in the world to do so, although Bharat Stage IV emmissions standards have been in place for some time.
The fuel economy specs are based on sales-weighted average fuel consumption figures across the whole of a manufacturer's product range over a single year. The CSE is concerned that concessions which offer extra points scored for the use of certain technologies could signficantly skew manufacturer figures.