Filed under: Green Culture, MPG, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Lightweight, Greenlings
Over the last few decades, the average weight of a vehicle sold in the U.S. climbed steadily after we got over the oil embargoes of the 1970s. Today, though, auto companies are putting a lot of effort into reducing weight - Lotus set up an entire lightweight structures division, BMW is investing millions into carbon fiber and Jaguar loves aluminum - because every ounce you take out of a car improves the vehicle's performance and fuel economy. Options for weight savings that automakers are investigating include installing things like plastic fuel tanks (PDF) and using carbon fiber instead of steel. As we discovered in a previous Greenlings, carbon fiber is a remarkable, lightweight substance that will likely not be used widely until prices come way, way down. Today, one of the main reasons automakers want to reduce weight is because it's a great way to increase MPG numbers. AutoblogGreen reader GenWaylaid sent in a Greenlings question about how, exactly, reducing weight helps efficiency. We investigate his query after the jump.
Continue reading Greenlings: How does weight affect a vehicle's efficiency?
Greenlings: How does weight affect a vehicle's efficiency? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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