Review of the Research Program of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles

This book examines the state of development and research progress of technologies being considered for a new generation of vehicles that could achieve up to three times the fuel economy of comparable 1994 family sedans. It addresses compression ignition direct injection engines, fuel cells, gas turbines, batteries, flywheels, ultracapacitors, and power electronics being developed by the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehiclesa cooperative research and development program between the U.S. government and the U.S. Council for Automotive Research. The book assesses the relevance of the ongoing research to PNGV's goals and schedule and addresses several broad program issues such as government efforts to anticipate infrastructure issues, the leverage of foreign technology, and the program's adequacy and balance. Table of Contents FRONT MATTER HIGHLIGHTS SUMMARY 1: INTRODUCTION 2: GOALS 1 AND 2 3: SYSTEMS AND ANALYSIS 4: POWERTRAIN DEVELOPMENTS 5: MAJOR MANUFACTURING CONSIDERATIONS FOR GOAL 3 6: OUTSTANDING PROGRAM ISSUES 7: PNGV RESPONSE TO PHASE 2 REPORT APPENDIX A: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES APPENDIX B: COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND OTHER ACTIVITES APPENDIX C: RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PHASE 2 REPORT APPENDIX D: LETTERS FROM PNGV AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REGARDING PHASE 2 REPORT APPENDIX E: BRIEF BACKGROUND ON POWERTRAINS