Search Results

This book sheds light on three essential questions: 1. What is the likely supply of gasoline and diesel from oil worldwide to power light vehicles and trucks through 2030-2035? 2. Could any other fuel economically replace gasoline? Will different parts of the world answer that question differently? 3. How will the answers to these questions affect what we engineer, make, and drive in 2030–2035? As difficult as it is to predict timing of these events, the book presents reasonable assumptions and alternative scenarios. Since a switch to alternative technologies will require substantial investment, it is critical to have a sense of when. Despite the global reach of the automotive industry, it is unlikely that a solution for one region will fit all. A more reasonable goal is a set of projected ‘ecosystems’ using differing amounts of oil, electricity, or alternative fuels. From this, automotive managers and leaders can get a sense of how to make business decisions for the future.

The current rapid rate of innovation in the automotive industry is primarily fueled by the need to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions, increase use of electronics for infotainment and safety, and global development. This full-color book delves into these megatrends to arm decision-makers with information that will help them remain competitive in the North American automotive market for the next 20 years. The first third of the book covers improvements to existing technologies-engines, transmissions, bodies and materials-for better fuel economy. The second portion of the book delves into alternate fuel sources for vehicles and associated technologies. The focus of the final third of the book is the emergence of the smart car. Readers will come away with a renewed understanding of the complicated set of trends that will affect the automotive industry for the next 20 years, and how to effectively address them.