Abstract This study uses fuel consumption simulators for 15 late-model automobiles to determine how one ought to drive to maximize fuel economy. The simulation is based on extensive on-road and dynamometer testing of the 15 cars. Dynamic programming is used to determine the optimal way to accelerate from rest to cruising speed, to drive a block between stop signs, and to cruise on hilly terrain while maintaining a given average speed. The dependence of fuel economy on cruising speed is also characterized for various road grades. Findings include that optimal speeds are generally higher for larger cars and higher on downgrades than on upgrades, and that the relative fuel penalty for exceeding the speed limit is no worse for small cars than large cars. Optimal control for accelerate-and-cruise and for driving between stop signs varies considerably from car to car; in the latter case fuel economy is much improved by achieving a rather low peak speed. Optimal control on hills is consistent from car to car and can achieve fuel economy 7% to 30% better than that of constant-speed driving on 3% to 6% grades. Results that appear generalizable to other cars are reduced to advice for the fuel-conscious driver.
Optimal driving for single-vehicle fuel economy
Transportation Research Part A: General ; 22 , 3 ; 183-201
1987-05-15
19 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Optimal driving for vehicle fuel economy under traffic speed uncertainty
Elsevier | 2021
|Optimal fuel-cut driving method for better fuel economy
Online Contents | 2013
|Optimal fuel-cut driving method for better fuel economy
Springer Verlag | 2013
|Optimal fuel-cut driving method for better fuel economy
British Library Online Contents | 2013
|