09-05-2007, 11:46 PM
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Engineering first
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Real Name: Bob
Location: Huntsville, AL
Hybrids: Prius Classic 03
Posts: 5,029
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Electric steering
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/...ap4086947.html
Quote:
DETROIT - Beneath your car's hood, there are belts hooked to the engine, running the power steering, air conditioning and other items that drag on the engine and cut gas mileage.
But as fuel efficiency becomes paramount with high gas prices and pending government regulations, automakers across the world are trying to get rid of as many belts as they can, switching them to electric motors.
The power steering pump is likely to be the first casualty. Toyota Motor Corp. (nyse: TM - news - people ), General Motors Corp. (nyse: GM - news - people ), Ford Motor Co. (nyse: F - news - people ) already have electric power steering on some models, with more in the works, and they report fuel efficiency gains of up to 8 percent.
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The hybrid electric propulsion system is not enough. All of the vehicle systems including power steering, need to be optimized. The electric powered, AC compressor is another brilliant advance. As for a '8 percent' fuel improvement by switching to an electric power steering, that seems a little bit of a stretch.
Bob Wilson
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