SAE International, US, has announced the release of a new publication titled Automotive 2030--North America. The book is said to provide decision-makers with information on megatrends that will help them remain competitive in the North American automotive market for the next 20 years. According to the book, the current rapid rate of innovation in the automotive industry is mainly fuelled by the need to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions, increase the use of electronics and global development.
The first chapter summarises key developments in vehicle technologies. The next three chapters show trends and predict the future of technologies that have been around since the beginning of the automotive age - internal combustion engines, transmissions, vehicle bodies, and materials. With continued uncertainty about fuel prices and availability, engineers will refine these technologies to deliver better fuel economy, it has been noted.
A new array of technical developments is resulting from gasoline-electric hybrids, and these are discussed in chapter five. Chapters six, seven and eight delve into the second megatrend - alternative sources of fuel. The other megatrend examined is the emergence of the smart car.
The book is written for executives, decision-makers, managers and academics in the automotive field. With over 20 years of experience in technology development, research and management, author Bruce Morey is said to offer a forward-looking perspective on critical topics. These include key vehicle technology development; improving fuel economy through powertrain, transmissions, vehicle bodies and materials; electric battery vehicles, plug-in electric vehicles, extended-range vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells; and smart car technology including sensors and communication devices.
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