TROY, MI -- (Marketwire) -- 04/16/09 -- Earth Day may only come once a year, but Delphi Corp. is helping drivers lessen their environmental impact each and every day with a portfolio of energy-efficient, green technologies.

"Delphi continues to develop innovative and environmentally sensitive technologies that can be used in real-world applications," said Rodney O'Neal, Delphi chief executive officer and president. "Our products help reduce emissions and increase fuel economy without sacrificing the performance or comfort drivers expect."

Increased Fuel Economy

A vehicle equipped with Delphi's energy-efficient air conditioning technologies alone can save a driver an average of five to15 gallons (19 to 57 liters) of fuel per year in the United States when compared to traditional air conditioning systems. Assuming 10 gallons (38 liters) are saved by every vehicle, it can quickly add up to an annual savings of 2.3 billion gallons (8.7 billion liters) worth of gasoline per year in the United States.

Since 1999, Delphi has put more than 10 million Electric Power Steering (EPS) units on the road, saving more than 500 million gallons of fossil fuels. As the steering industry undergoes a significant technological shift driven by regulatory changes to achieve lower CO2 emissions and increased fuel economy, EPS is a cost-effective alternative for automakers to move closer to regulatory targets.

Reducing vehicle weight also helps cut fuel usage. Today's vehicles may contain as much as 100 pounds (45.3 kilograms) of wiring. Insulation represents roughly 25 percent of the wiring's total weight. Delphi Halogen-Free Ultra Thin-Wall insulation measures just 0.2 mm thick, compared to about 0.4 mm for conventional thin-wall cable insulation. That difference -- equivalent to about two sheets of paper -- accounts for a mass reduction of up to 27 percent and a volume reduction of up to 47 percent in a typical wiring harness. Such an improvement translates to a reduction of roughly five pounds (2.2 kilograms) when the entire harness is taken into account. Delphi now produces more than 1.5 billion feet (474,000,000 meters) of Halogen-Free Ultra Thin-Wall Cable per year to supply four major automakers.

Using Delphi's new patented plastic composite technology, even the vehicle audio system weight can be reduced significantly. Delphi's Ultra Light Radio weighs 1.2 pounds (0.54 kilograms) less than a typical car radio, is equally robust and allows vehicle manufactures to maintain the quality and value they require. When a satellite receiver and premium amplifiers are integrated into the radio, up to 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) can be eliminated from a vehicle's audio system.

Hybrid Technologies

Drivers can help reduce carbon emissions while cashing in on better gas mileage with many of Delphi's hybrid technologies. Delphi's Medium Hybrid System, with stop-start capabilities, is a self-contained drive system that can improve fuel economy by up to 20 percent.