Remove Carbon Fiber Remove Downsizing Remove Green Remove Light
article thumbnail

Volvo Trucks SuperTruck demonstrator improves freight efficiency by 88%, fuel efficiency by 70%

Green Car Congress

From the top-of-cab solar panels powering its battery and interior lights, to its ultra-light aluminum frame and highly advanced 425 horsepower 11-liter proprietary engine, the SuperTruck concept vehicle allowed Volvo engineers to push the boundaries of heavy truck efficiency. Click to enlarge.

Volvo 150
article thumbnail

Ford focused on lightweighting as a major enabling technology for low-emission, fuel-efficient vehicles from ICEs to EVs

Green Car Congress

” The more weight we can take out of our vehicles though use of alternative materials, and other lightweighting strategies that we have, that enables us to further downsize the engine—which is the biggest lever you can pull in the vehicle. Light weighting] is definitely not going to cost the same as vehicles today.

Ford 252
article thumbnail

DOE to award up to $137M for SuperTruck II, Vehicle Technology Office programs

Green Car Congress

Demonstrate the joining of steel to aluminum and aluminum to carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites using the existing spot welding infrastructure. Develop new coating and adhesives that enable carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic/aluminum closure panels and validate corrosion testing methods. Federal funding.

Vehicles 150
article thumbnail

Ferrari’s Plug-in Hybrid One-Ups the Combustion Engine

Cars That Think

That front-drive mode gets the car a green light in cities like London and Rome as they begin to bar polluting cars from their downtown areas. You switch the mode on by dialing it up on the Ferrari’s dramatic steering wheel, which integrates a cool arc of LED lights on its carbon-fiber rim to cue drivers to shift.

Plug-in 96
article thumbnail

Using the PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle) to Transition Society Seamlessly and Profitably From Fossil Fuel to 100% Renewable Energy

Green Car Congress

Some examples are the use of fiberglass, carbon fiber and Kevlar substituting for wood and metal in vehicle parts, appliances and furniture products. In fact, the optimized PHEV is much more efficient as a long range liquid fuel vehicle, because the engine is downsized. But use of petroleum will continue. Or their UF=10% to 15%.

PHEV 150