Power and Propulsion Publications

Ford’s next-generation EcoBoost engine technology will likely feature some combination of aggressive cooled EGR, further advancements in valvetrain and turbocharger control, and engine downspeeding, with the goal of improving vehicle fuel economy by 25%. Engineers believe up to 40% brake thermal efficiency can be achieved from stoichiometric-regime engines at moderate cost.

Increasing manufacturing scale is critical in getting lithium-ion battery costs down; it will not be nearly enough to reach the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium target of $150/kW·h by 2020.

Idle-stop may add to city fuel economy and is eligible for 2.9 g/mi carbon credits, so it is starting to appear as a U.S. option. Need for A/C operation leads to evaluation of evaporators with thermal storage in waxes. Delphi promises U.S. OE installation for 2015, following low-volume Behr system in European BMW 7 Series.

The first GTL knowledge product to launch focuses on ground vehicle electrification. Built from the ground up using agile-development techniques, with multiple interactions with industry-based testers, SAE’s GTL-EV is a unique subscription product.

Changing from alloy to composite materials for engine fan blades is an identified path to reducing overall engine weight by a significant amount—typically up to 1000 lb.