Sep. 15, 2009 (PR Newswire) --
FRANKFURT, Germany, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW) is demonstrating a number of ways in which it is supporting vehicle manufacturers to reduce fuel consumption and emissions - beyond powertrain solutions. In addition to developing fuel efficient steering, braking and heating ventilation and air conditioning technologies, TRW is demonstrating how its driver assistance systems could be used to support driver behavior and further optimize fuel consumption.
Peter Lake, executive vice president, Sales and Business Development said: "There is more to fuel efficiency than just powertrain. While 60 to 70 percent of the fuel's energy input to the vehicle is lost in the powertrain and driveline, the remaining 30 to 40 percent offers great opportunities for improved energy use. This includes driving habits - which can have a major impact on fuel consumption. We could think about the concept of a 'Green Button' within the vehicle, which automatically ensures that the driver is travelling in the most fuel efficient mode.
"Several of TRW's current systems could be used to manage improvements in fuel efficiency and emissions levels. Working on the theory that a driver could select a 'fuel efficient mode,' systems would respond to optimize both safety and fuel efficient driving patterns. It has also been demonstrated that driver assist systems can help to improve traffic flow and reduce traffic congestion - a potentially significant contribution to reducing harmful emissions."
For example, the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) would maintain a safe driving distance while optimizing acceleration and deceleration rates with fluctuations in traffic flow to achieve maximum fuel efficiency. (1) Research carried out on vehicles equipped with ACC technology over a five-month period revealed that fuel consumption was reduced by three percent.
In addition, map and positioning data could communicate with the ACC system to manage power and acceleration based on information regarding the grade of upcoming hills or sharpness of bends. Intelligent camera systems can read traffic signs and communication devices can receive signals from road infrastructure to anticipate speed reductions or traffic signals to begin deceleration and optimize energy recovery during stopping.
