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.  To learn more about alternative fuel, please visit the U.S. Department of Energy website.

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.