NRC new engines and hybrids most promising for the next 15 years

EcoBoost is the first step towards hybrid pickup trucks?

In the next 15 years conventional spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine continues to dominate the American auto industry, according to the National Council for Resource (NRC). Fortunately, a "significant" number of new technologies, such as the reduction of friction, downsizing, improved thermal management, Turbo, etc., can be combined to reduce fuel consumption by nearly 30 percent, without reducing the security, performance or utility.

Also diesel and hybrid technologies provide further improvements, but more upfront cost.

According to the NRC, achieving a 30 percent increase in fuel economy over the next 15 years using conventional engines, adding an average of $ 2,200 to the cost of a new vehicle. Furthermore, such technologies offer opportunities for incremental improvement, making such improvements more financially feasible for car manufacturers according to the NRC.

In the same period, new diesel engines can reduce fuel consumption by 37 percent, at a cost of $ 5,900 per vehicle, while hybrid cars a 43 percent improvement for $ 6,000.

Additionally, it is important to note that these are averages. Of course, the additional cost of the hybrid technology, for example, are less for smaller vehicles and more for larger vehicles.

There are also numerous hybrid species. Consequently, mild hybrid technologies to add to some vehicles might make more sense than full hybrid technologies, particularly in the short term, as some profit is better than no profit.

The NRC also notes that plug-in hybrids will also be sold in this time, but additional costs will they become less feasible than conventional hybrids. Also, electric cars will also be sold, but battery technologies is not expected to improve enough over the next 15 years, according to the NRC, for battery-electric systems very viable.

In short, it seems like the NRC study to suggest that there is not a one size fits all type of solution for the car industry. At the end of the day, steady, incremental improvements in fuel efficiency should focus the mid-term of the auto industry and policy makers, at least until battery technologies are significantly improved. So, maybe technologies such as Ecoboost and mild hybrids are the first steps towards full hybrid and plug-in pick-up trucks. And, since the last 15 years or more before perhaps plug-in trucks viable technologies such as, for example, Ecoboost are just that much more important in the meantime.

I think you will not only be a marathon runner over night.

Perhaps most importantly, the car industry should be judged more by what they are today with regard to better fuel economy do, not what they could do tomorrow.

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