New U.S. and international efforts aim to curb auto emissions, which means automakers will need to incorporate and adopt new technologies quickly to meet the new standards.

By Salvatore Salamone

In the last few months, worldwide, federal, and state initiatives have placed an emissions control challenge to automakers: Cut emissions significantly going forward.

The solution will require a combination of existing and new technologies to improve the fuel efficiency of engines and increase the trapping and reduction of engine exhaust gases. Longer-term solutions will likely incorporate hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles to help meet new global and national fleet emissions standards.

Regardless of the technology or type of vehicle, the main focus of the new initiatives is to control the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, whose concentration in the atmosphere has increased due to human activities since the beginning of the industrial age.

New Thrust: Curbing CO2

Many earlier emission-control efforts focused on reducing smog and addressed issues associated with acid rain and ozone depletion. The new initiatives focus squarely on reducing carbon dioxide (CO2).

The easiest way to reduce CO2 emissions is, simply, to burn less fuel. As a result, many emission-control programs are closely linked to fuel efficiency.

In March at the Geneva Motor Show, several motoring organizations and international agencies lined up behind an effort called the Global Fuel Economy Initiative, which seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from cars. It aims to do this by promoting "research, discussion, and action to improve fuel economy worldwide." The group's ultimate goal is to improve fuel efficiency of the world's total car fleet by 50 percent by 2050.

Long-term, a variety of technologies will be needed to meet the new fuel economy and emissions requirements that are emerging.

A glimpse at just how diverse an array of technologies is being considered can be found by looking at the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE competition. In April, 111 teams entering 136 vehicles that use 14 different fuel sources were selected to compete for the program's $10 million in prize money. That money will go to teams that design cars that exceed 100 MPG fuel economy and meet strict emissions requirements.

Shorter term, automakers will need to meet more immediate goals such as those recently introduced in the United States.

In May, President Obama announced new nationwide rules for auto emissions and fuel efficiency. The effort combines standards proposed and implemented in California together with recommendations from the Department of Transportation.

The U.S. effort's goal is to create a car and light truck fleet by 2016 that is about 40 percent cleaner (i.e., producing fewer emissions) and more fuel efficient than today. According to the New York Times, "The plan is to hit the new target by making incremental gains every year, beginning with the new crop of 2011 vehicle models."

Under the plan, the 2011 model year standard will require the nation's cars and trucks to meet a fleet-wide average of 27.3 miles per gallon, which is 8 percent above the 2010 model year requirement of 25.3 mpg.

Many automakers were already targeting improved efficiency in their 2011 cars. And others, including parts suppliers, have technology under development that certainly can be applied to reduce fuel usage. For example:

• This year, Mazda announced plans to increase fuel efficiency 30 percent by 2015 by improving the efficiency of its cars' gasoline and diesel engines and through overall car weight reduction. These approaches are shared by many manufacturers.
• Chrysler introduced the Pentastar V-6 engine to be included in the Jeep 2011 Grand Cherokee. The engine, which Chrysler plans to use in its Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge lines, features Variable-Valve Timing (VVT) technology and offers an 11 percent improvement in fuel economy.
• Fiat introduced a new engine technology dubbed the Multiair system. The technology comes from Fiat's Ferrari Formula 1 racing team efforts. The system uses electronic controls and hydraulics to vary an engine's valve timing (again, a VVT approach) over a wider range than the mechanical systems used today. Fiat says the system can potentially reduce fuel consumption by as much as 25 percent. The first commercial Fiat offering using the technology is the Alfa Romeo MiTo compact sports car, available this year.
• In April, Goodyear introduced the Assurance Fuel Max tire, which has a new tread compound that reduces rolling resistance by 27 percent. Goodyear says the tire can help drivers save 4 percent more fuel.
• Alcoa Wheel & Transportation Products developed wheels using higher-strength aluminum, allowing for thinner wheels. Tires made with the new material are also about 20 percent lighter. (No estimate of the potential fuel savings is available.)

As can be seen, there is no single solution that will produce the fuel and emissions reductions being mandated by the new U.S. initiative. As a result, automakers will likely rely on a combination of technologies and approaches to bring their cars in line with the new standards in the short term. Longer-term, electric cars will likely be needed to meet the progressively more aggressive standards.

Salvatore Salamone is an executive editor at Ziff Davis Enterprise. He has more than 20 years of experience writing about science and technology for major industry trade magazines and is the author of three business technology books.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of Progressive Casualty Insurance Company or its affiliates.