Automotive Research and Development
Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Automotive Research and Development
Automotive research and development is a field that assists with the engineering and design of automobiles. Technology is ever changing, and keeping up with that technology is a must for automobile manufacturers. If they are to maintain a strong place in the market, they will need to find what works and what the best options for new vehicles are. This is particularly true in a struggling economy where companies fight to maintain their customer base.
Some issues research and development teams deal with in the automobile industry are environmental issues and design. Consumers are moving towards environmentally safe vehicles that consume less gas and have smaller more fuel-efficient bodies. More and more manufacturers are moving in the direction of the Smart Car. Hybrid automobiles use both electricity and gas, which cuts down on waste of natural resources. Another development issue that faces car manufacturers is the ability to produce a car that will pass emission tests. Emissions are also referred to as exhausts, which are what the vehicle emits when the fuels burns during operation. Lower emissions are better for the environment. In most cities, a car must pass emission tests to be operable.
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Automotive Research and Development Key Terms
Learn some terms associated with the fast-paced field of automotive research and developmentBy Jason Wood Automotive research and development is an ever-changing field that encompasses everything from how to make vehicles more fuel efficient to how to sell more cars by making vehicles on the cutting edge of style. When it comes to learning about automotive research and development, it's smart to familiarize yourself with a few key terms, especially in the area of fuel efficiency, so that you'll be able to understand the research and development projects being discussed.
Zero-emission vehicle
A zero-emission vehicle, or ZEV, as it's otherwise known, is a vehicle that produces next to zero emissions during operation. Some states are now requiring an "environmental performance" label on cars purchased at a dealership. Part of the environmental performance label will include information on the amount of emissions released.
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The California Environmental Protection Agency has a comprehensive guide on the different measurements taken to determine if a vehicle qualifies for a zero-emission or near-zero-emission rating.
Hydrogen-fuel cell
A hydrogen-fuel cell refers to a tank that stores high-pressure hydrogen gas or hydrogen-rich fuels like natural gas or methanol. The fuel cell uses a mix of hydrogen and oxygen (taken from the air) to create electricity.
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The U.S. Department of Energy offers an in-depth look at new kinds of fuel cells being studied in automotive research and development.
Flex fuel
Flex-fuel vehicles refers to vehicles that run on about 85 percent gasoline and 15 percent ethanol. The mixture of the two fuels is therefore called flex fuel.
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency discusses flex fuel and how it is part of automotive research and development.
Direct-fuel injection
Direct-fuel injection refers to the process of injecting the fuel directly into the cylinder chamber. This differs from the conventional process where air is mixed with fuel before it is pumped into the cylinder chamber. Direct-fuel injection allows a smaller amount of gas to be used, thus lowering fuel consumption per mile.
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Fuel Economy.gov examines how direct-fuel injection operates.
Biofuels
Biofuels are fuel sources that are derived from living biological material. Shortly after the biological material is harvested, it is converted into fuel. For instance, corn can be harvested and eventually turned into ethanol, and soybeans can eventually be processed (when mixed with fuel) into biodiesel. Biofuels can be replanted so they can be harvested again and again.
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Center for Applied Energy Research has a discussion on research and technology in relation to biofuels.
Waste-exhaust heat
Waste-exhaust heat refers to the heat that's expelled from your car engine through the tailpipe. Long thought to be a useless byproduct, waste-exhaust heat is now being studied by automotive research and development firms that are trying to harness and reuse it.
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Green Car.com has a comprehensive discussion on possible uses of waste-exhaust heat.
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