This research addresses the U.S. segment mix, the impact of CAV on personal vehicle ownership, the tension between consumer demand and regulatory mandates on EVs, and the implication for the nation’s engineering and skilled talent development institutions and the overall technological leadership of the United States.

The post The Great Divide: What Automotive Consumers are Buying vs. Auto & Supplier Investments in Future Technologies, Products & Business Models appeared first on Center for Automotive Research.

• Intelligent Mobility Technology
• Materials and Manufacturing Processes
• Light Duty Vehicle Propulsion

The post Technology Roadmaps: Intelligent Mobility Technology; Materials and Manufacturing Processes; and Light Duty Vehicle Propulsion appeared first on Center for Automotive Research.

The post An Assessment of Powertrain Technology Costs Associated with Meeting CAFE and GHG Standards appeared first on Center for Automotive Research.

This report reviews the GHG credit progress made thus far in the U.S. industry and how long those credits would last if no additional technology advancements were made to the fleet. Without significant advances in fleet fuel efficiency, none of the leading automotive manufacturers in the U.S. market will meet the future standards. After including all credits earned from MY 2009 through MY 2013 and carrying over the performance of the MY 2014 fleet against the standards from MY 2015 through MY 2025, all manufacturers would run out of credits by the year MY 2021 and some would run out of credits as early as MY 2017. The industry as a whole would have a cumulative deficit of credits by MY 2018 at which point there would not be enough credits to cover all deficiencies within the industry.

The post Meeting U.S. Passenger Vehicle Emissions Standards: Greenhouse Gas Credits Balance appeared first on Center for Automotive Research.

Federal regulatory standards for fuel economy and emissions in the United States are administered by two agencies: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). While the standards are to a certain extent harmonized, they are not necessarily in complete alignment. This divergence is due to the differing missions of each agency—the EPA focusing on emissions, and NHTSA on fuel economy. Powertrain technology and alternative fuels have a direct impact on fuel economy and emissions—and the overall compliance strategy for a manufacturer. Certain fuels are more likely to reduce greenhouse and smog-forming emissions as well as petroleum use.

The post Crucial Greenhouse Gas and Corporate Average Fuel Economy(CAFE) Regulation Differences in the United States appeared first on Center for Automotive Research.

Among the factors that determine the official standard for a vehicle manufacturer are: the footprint of a vehicle, the distribution of truck and passenger car sales, and the market share of credit or incentive enabling technology. The following document will describe some of these factors and identify implications as the industry moves forward.

The post A Primer to Fuel Economy and Emissions Standards appeared first on Center for Automotive Research.

The Phase I report stated “the automotive industry—both original equipment and aftermarket—is experiencing rapid and dramatic structural changes and is currently in a state of significant upheaval.” It further stated, “Due to this upheaval, many industry participants are experiencing what can best be described as tactical tunnel vision. These companies, faced by severe near-term market vehicle technology and product development challenges and uncertainties, have been actively addressing tactical operational concerns, often at the expense of strategic long-term planning. While this is understandable—even necessary—it does present potential risk and opportunity costs for these companies.” The authors believe that statement to be even more relevant today.

The SEMA–CAR industry research project is part of SEMA’s Vehicle Technology strategy and is intended to assist SEMA member companies by investigating strategic concerns, challenges and opportunities and provide the most up-to-date information that is relevant and important to helping members sustain and grow their businesses.. The project is specifically designed to illustrate and communicate these coming challenges and create a forum for discussion (both within companies and between stakeholders) as well as provide a framework for effective scenario planning and bridging strategic thinking with operational business planning.. Individual companies will most certainly respond differently to these strategic challenges and scenarios. That creativity and innovation is the essence of SEMA members’ entrepreneurial spirit and drive. The goal established by the CAR-SEMA project is to look ahead at what is coming down the road and provide advance notice of industry and vehicle changes in order to help member companies understand and prepare for those strategic challenges and opportunities.

The post Powertrain Forecast and Analysis: What is Coming and What Are the Implications for the Specialty Equipment and Performance Aftermarket Industry appeared first on Center for Automotive Research.

This study was prepared for the Advanced Power Technology Alliance (APTA) and sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Dow Foundation.

The post Advanced Power Technology Alliance Advanced Internal Combustion Engine Survey (Light Duty Vehicle Technology) appeared first on Center for Automotive Research.

You’d probably be very excited that there are ways to make cars that will “save the planet” or give the United States energy independence. As you read farther down in these stories, however, you notice that numerous improvements are needed in terms of the cost and performance of these vehicles, especially with the fuel cell powered vehicles. You’re left with many doubts and perhaps distrust of what “Detroit” or “big oil” is telling you about the challenges they face to comply with the ever increasing environmental and fuel mileage standards.

This study was prepared by the Center for Automotive Research with generous support fromt the Robert Bosch Corporation.

The post The Advanced Power Technology Dilemma: from Hydrocarbons to Hydrogen appeared first on Center for Automotive Research.

The post Advanced Power Technology Survey appeared first on Center for Automotive Research.