A New Car is a Clean Car
Energy efficient technologies are available now! Many of the vehicles currently on display in dealer showrooms boast new performance-enhancing, fuel-saving technologies that can save you money. The percentages below reflect average efficiency increase per technology.
Engine Technologies
- Variable Valve Timing & Lift improve engine efficiency by optimizing the flow of fuel & air into the engine for various engine speeds. 5%
- Cylinder Deactivation saves fuel by deactivating cylinders when they are not needed. 7.5%
- Turbochargers & Superchargers increase engine power, allowing manufacturers to downsize engines without sacrificing performance or to increase performance without lowering fuel economy. 7.5%
- Integrated Starter/Generator (ISG) Systems automatically turn the engine on/off when the vehicle is stopped to reduce fuel consumed during idling. 8%
- Direct Fuel Injection (w/ turbocharging or supercharging) delivers higher performance with lower fuel consumption. 11-13%
Transmission Technologies
- Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVTs) have an infinite number of "gears", providing seamless acceleration & better fuel economy. 6%
- Automated Manual Transmissions (AMTs) combine the efficiency of manual transmissions with the convenience of automatics (gears shift automatically). 7%
Hybrids
Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors. Some of the advanced technologies typically used by hybrids include:
- Regenerative Braking: the electric motor applies resistance to the drivetrain causing the wheels to slow down. In return, the energy from the wheels turns the motor, which functions as a generator, converting energy normally wasted during coasting and braking into electricity, which is stored in a battery until needed by the electric motor.
- Electric Motor Drive/Assist: the electric motor provides additional power to assist the engine in accelerating, passing, or hill climbing. This allows a smaller, more efficient engine to be used. In some vehicles, the motor alone provides power for low-speed driving conditions where internal combustion engines are least efficient.
- Automatic Start/Shutoff: automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and restarts it when the accelerator is pressed. This prevents wasted energy from idling.