Research Under Way on Supercar of the Future

05/08/96

Reuters reported that about 150 researchers are working on developing a supercar at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The supercar project (officially dubbed "Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles" or PGNV) is a ground-breaking research venture co-sponsored by the federal government and U.S. carmakers. The supercar will weigh 50% less than current automobiles and have fuel efficiency of 80 miles per gallon (current national average is about 27 mpg).

PGNV's goal is to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign fuel and has focused on materials research by carmakers, the feds, and supplier industries like aluminum, stainless steel, and carbon steel. A recent demonstration of PGNV's progress showed that the car will carry less weight, making it more fuel efficient than current vehicles and reducing U.S. need for foreign energy. Petroleum comprises 10% of the U.S. import inventory, equivalent to three-quarters of the U.S. trade deficit.

President Clinton formed the PNGV in 1993. Eight federal agencies are involved, led by the Commerce Department. Funding for the project comes in equal parts form the government and the big three U.S. carmakers. Supplier industries fund their own ancillary research.

In addition to reducing vehicle weight, researchers are developing emission systems so the supercar will meet environmental standards. The supercar project will not come to fruition for another 10 years. The Commerce Department announced that the project's goal is to have a production prototype by 2004 and vehicles on the market in 2006.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel