Fuel Efficiency Takes Baby Steps in the Auto Industry


by ERICA GIES
New York Times
June 20, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO — Thanks to climate change policies and expensive gasoline, electric cars— and especially hybrid electrics — have made some inroads in the U.S. vehicle market. Still, the internal combustion engine is not about to go the way of the dodo. Mainstream engine makers are continually pushing forward incremental improvements and a few companies are developing radically different technologies.

Most of these innovators are still testing and marketing their designs and market barriers may slow or block widespread adoption, even if their inventions perform as hoped. Still, they say their technologies could deliver efficiency gains of as much as 55 percent.

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