Emissions Cuts A Weighty
BY:CHRISTOPHER TAN FEEDBACKAutomakers have us direct injection, clever use of various forced induction methods, new transmission trends (dual clutch, CVTs), stop-start mechanisms, and even diesel and hybrid powertrains - everything in an effort to reduce fuel consumption and emissions .
In addition, the cars have become larger. The current Honda Civic is the size of a contract of 20 years ago.
So-called mid-size executive models like the Mercedes E-Class and BMW 5-series is now pushing towards 5m in length - one reserved for limousines like the S-Class and 7 Series not too long ago.No prize for guessing why cars are bigger. Yes, the man has become larger and heavier. Recent studies by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the average height of American men aged 20 and 74 had increased from 1.7 73m in 1960 to 1.7 77m in 2002.
His average weight hadmeanwhile increased from 75.4 4kg to 86.7 7kg - a 11.3 3kg profit. The extra weight was most pronounced among those aged 40 and over.A point to note: Several European manufacturers still measure their vehicles fuel consumption with a 70kg driver on board, never mind that the average age of German weighed 82.4 4kg as in 2005.Picture four American adults in a car.
That equates to a total weight gain of 45.2 2 kg on average. And that translates to a 2 percent increase in fuel consumption, all else being equal.What if the four Americans were in a Volkswagen Golf? The Mk6 Golf is about 400 kg heavier than the Mk1 Assuming that the latest Golf is powered by a 1.2 2 TSI, can cover 100km on 5.8 8 liter of petrol, which just about matches Mk1 economy that still leaves us with a 2 percent decline in the economy.
According to the Land Transport Authority's annual statistics, average cars up to 1600cc 9.4 4 liters per 100 km here in 2008 - up from 8.3 3 liters in 2003.
Now, it's not quite sure if that is due to the general decline of smaller cars (those little - with engines no larger than one liter), or due to a general increase in congestion.But, going by anecdotal evidence, the roads become more crowded over the last five years, thanks to an increase in the number of vehicles registered.
A growing vehicle population is a problem everywhere. In China, growth has been explosive. India will follow.There are now some 900 million cars in the world, almost double the figure for 1995.Industry experts expect the figure to reach up to 1.8 8 billion in less than 30 years. Combine this trend with rapid urbanization and the image be-comes more gloomy.
UN has predicted that more and more people will live in cities and towns will therefore become larger and larger.This in turn will give rise to the suburbs which will mean longer commute by car.So whatever emissions reductions countries pledged in Kyoto or Copenhagen are unlikely to be realized unless drastic steps are taken.Like a halving of the use of vehicles. This will be almost as difficult as getting people to 11.3 hangar 3kg each.
Emissions Cuts A Weighty
