WestStart Publishes Drivetrain and Fuels Trends Analysis
PASADENA, Calif.--Sept. 10, 2001--Publication Offers Insight Into Issues, Trends Impacting Drivetrains
and Fuels for Heavy-Duty Vehicle Industry Over Next 10 Years
WestStart, a nonprofit advanced transportation technologies consortium, has released its latest trends analysis publication, "Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Analyzing Trends in Advanced Technologies and Fuels."
The new publication offers a review and analysis of the issues and trends impacting the heavy-duty vehicle industry over the next 10 years, as economic and environmental pressures converge to propel change.
The WestStart analysis identifies and discusses the key drivers affecting drivetrain and fuel choices in the heavy-duty vehicle industry over the next 10 years.
The report examines the 2004 and 2007 EPA heavy-duty vehicle emission standards, and assesses their impact on conventional and advanced drivetrains and fuels. These standards, along with other regulations promulgated by state and regional governing bodies, are forcing significant changes within the heavy-duty vehicle industry.
In a fuel-neutral approach, WestStart examines the competing technologies to meet the demanding new emission standards. Advances in diesel fuel, diesel engine and after-treatment technologies are examined.
The report also assesses the potential and progress of emerging heavy-duty fuels and drivetrains such as natural gas, hybrid-electric, fuel cells, gas-to-liquids, and high-pressure direct injection (HPDI) engines.
"There is a tremendous uncertainty about the future of heavy-duty drivetrains and fuels. This report offers a comprehensive overview of the trends, technologies and fuels vying for position in the marketplace," said WestStart President John Boesel.
Largely driven by emission challenges, the pace of technology and fuel development in the heavy-duty vehicle industry has increased considerably. Over the last 40 years, emission controls and cleaner fuels have dramatically lowered pollution from light-duty cars.
Public policy will now be forcing significant change within the heavy-duty industry over the next 10 years. The uncontrolled diesel engine as we know it today is dead. Whether advanced diesel engines with sophisticated after-treatment technologies will be sufficient remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, significant progress in diesel alternatives has been made and continues to evolve. High-pressure direct injection natural gas engines offer significant promise. Japanese and American manufacturers will soon be offering hybrid trucks that could not only meet the EPA's 2007 emission standards, but help improve fuel economy in a world of increasing diesel fuel prices.
The race is clearly on, and this analysis offers a comprehensive overview of who is winning and whose potential looks the brightest. This report will be of vital interest to professionals in engine and vehicle manufacturing, fuels, fleet operations, government and public health. It is the first major report to take a broad overview of all the important facets of cleaner heavy-duty vehicles and fuels, and draw conclusions about the trends at work.
Some key features of "Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Analyzing Trends in Advanced Technologies and Fuels" include:
| -- | Side-by-side comparisons of the market advantages and challenges of the fuel and power plant options; |
| -- | How the heavy-duty vehicle market will receive new technologies; and |
| -- | Emerging trends that are beginning to drive the process of change. |
The report is available for $95 plus $6 per book for shipping and handling and may be purchased by contacting WestStart at 626/744-5600 or online at www.calstart.org.
WestStart, and its California operating division CALSTART, is an advanced transportation technologies consortium that focuses on developing new, clean technologies and solutions in transportation.
Working with private partners worldwide, WestStart provides technology development and demonstration, industry analysis, marketing, business development and fleet implementation services. Its expertise includes electric vehicles, natural gas vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and fuel-cell technologies.