|
|
What types of cars will we be driving in the next century?
In the 20th century, modern cars are an extraordinary engineering
achievement of the Iron age. However the backbone of the cars havn't changed very much
- they are made of steel and they have a internal-combustion engine.
The industry today is facing an era of many breakthroughs in science and
technology, innovations are occuring in materials, motors, electronics,
electricity-storage devices, small engine, fuel cells, software and computer-aideed design
and manufacturing etc.
In the 21st century, people deserve a new generation of cars - much more
fuel-efficient, safer, cleaner, faster, more comfortable, durable and
cheaper . . .
Another pressure came from the environmentm protection. The Zero-Emission
Vehicle (ZEV) mandate of California, New York State and Massachusetts require that by
2003, about 10% of all new personal vehicles sold must be "Zero-Emission
Vehicles".
The international automotive industry realized this tendency and have
started to cooperate to develop and build prototypes of future cars.
PNGV - Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles
In the USA, the federal goverment and the US automotive industry have
joined in a historic partnership in the development and production of a new generation of
cars. PNGV was established on Sep. 29, 1993.A cooperative research effort between Chrysler
Corp., Ford Motor Co., and General Motors Corp. Under the umbrella of the United States
Council for Automotive research (USCAR), it draws on the resources of 8 federal agencies,
the national laboratories, universities, and many small, high-technology US businesses.
Through this initiative, they are joinly researching leading-edge,
breakthrough automotive technologies.
Three goals of PNGV:
(A) Enhance manufacturing productivity.
(B) Improve the fuel efficiency of conventional vehicles.
(C) Pursue (high-risk) technologies that could lead to a fuel
efficiency improvement of up to 3 times today's vehicles.
Three principle phases of PNGV:
(A) First phase - To identify the most mature of the promising
technologies
for the initial set of concept vehicles, by the end of year
1997.
(B) Second phase - Concept vehicles incorporating the selected
technologies will be produced to demonstrate technical
feasibility by the year 2000.
(C) Final phase - Developing production prototypes by the year 2004,
that
are designed to demonstrate cost-effective manufacturing
feasibility.
Research on the key technologies will continue in parallel
with the vehicle systems research efforts in phase II and III.
Specifications of "Supercar":
CURB WEIGHT - Up to 40% weight reduction.
AERODYNAMICS - 0.20 Cd (Drag Coefficient.
Innovative styling, shielding.
FRICTION (ROLLING RESISTANCE) - 0.005.
Improved tires and friction management.
ENGINE - Flywheels, batteries, or ultracapacitors.
FUEL EFFICIENCY - up to 80 miles per gallon (Metro-Highway)
CLEAN AIR ACT REQUIREMENTS - Tier II emissions at the default level
of 0.125 HC, 1.7 CO and 0.2 NOx at 100,000 miles.
SAFETY PERFORMANCE - Meet FMVSS standards.
RECYCLABILITY - At least 80%.
AFFORDABLE PRICE
Is it a reality that these new generation cars will be produced in the next 10 years or so? Let us look at the progress . . .
The 3rd Annual Review of the PNGV program by the
National Academy of Science
The review has recognized that significant progress has
been made in many areas of technology during the past year.
The significant Progress has been made:
- A flexibla fuel processor
for a fuel cell.
- High-power batteries.
- Catalysts for reducing
oxides of nitrogen from fuel-efficient "lean
burn"
engines.
- The manufacturing of
ceramic components for turbine engines.
- A composite front-end
structure that passed 35 mph barrier crash
requirements.
- The development and
construction of concept cars such as
Chrysler's
intrepid ESX, Ford's Synergy 2010 as well as
General Motor's
introduction of the EV-1 for retail distribution.
Recent announcements regarding the advanced technology programs:
"Gasoline Powered Fuel Cell Concept Vehicle"
(Chrysler):
Chrysler is developing an on-board fuel processor based on DOE
research which will convert gasoline to hydrogen - the fuel required by a fuel cell. It is
hope that will offer >90% reduction in current vehicle emissions level and 50%
improvement in fuel economy.
Additional this fuel cell "engine" system will be fuel
flexible for the fuels other than gasoline.
"Light Weight Hybrid Test Vehicle P2000" (Ford):
P2000 will be a breakthrough research vehicle. A midsize family
sedan designed to reduce about 40% weight (Only ~2,000 pounds in its lightest
configulation).
With an advanced propulsion system, it targets a fuel efficiency of
up to 3 times that of today's family car. It also is expected to be an ultra low emissions
vehicle - short of zero emissions.
P2000 will be powered by a compression-ignition, direct-injection
(CIDI) engine. It is expected to be the lowest-emission, highest-energy density, and best
fuel efficiency CIDI engine in the industry.
The first driveable P2000 car will be assembled this fall. The goal
is to have fully functional vehicles in 1998, and a highly styled and aerodynamic version
by the end of 1998. Production prototypes could be developed by the middle of the next
decade.
"Hybrid Propulsion Systems" (General Motors):
General Motors is doing joint research with the DOE on combustion
series hybrid propulsion systems. It is intended to increase fuel ecomony significantly
and produce sub-ULEV tailpipe emissions. The current work is focused on the stirling
engine, electric drive motor, controller and battery systems. Generation 2 vehicles will
approach a 2 times fuel economic target and should begin running late in 1997. The
completion of the evaluation will be in mid-1998.
The similar efforts being made by Europian and Japanese
automotive industries are on the way.
It is expectable that we will driving much more advanced
"21st Century Cars" in the near future.
Home / Global Shopping / World Travel / World Trade /
World Invest / Services / Contact Us /
E-Commerce
Newsletter / 21st Century
Magazine /
21st Century Cinema
Copyright (C) 1996-1999 by 21st Century Electronic Publishing 
