One phase of the US Department of Energy's (DOE) effort to improve the fuel economy of passenger cars has been the investigation of a Controlled Speed Accessory Drive (CSAD) System. The objective of this specific program, initiated by DOE in association with the General Services Administration (GSA), was to demonstrate concept feasibility and evaluate the performance of a typical system during actual road driving conditions. The CSAD system can be described as a mechanical device which limits engine accessory speeds, thereby reducing parasitic horsepower losses and improving overall vehicle fuel economy. Fuel consumption data was compiled throughout the nation for fleets of GSA vehicles. Various motor pool locations were selected, each representing different climatic conditions. On the basis of a total accumulated fleet usage of nearly three million miles an overall fuel economy improvement of 6 to 7% has been demonstrated. Coincident chassis dynamometer tests were accomplished on selected vehicles to establish the effect of different accessory drive systems on exhaust emissions, and to evaluate the magnitude of the mileage benefits which could be derived. These real benefits are not now totally accounted for in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Federal Test Procedures (FTP). The actual mileage improvement observed during the extensive fleet tests was more than three times that measured during the FTP dynamometer test. It is believed that introduction of CSAD-type devices should be encouraged by the EPA and the other governmental agencies. (ERA citation 07:022266)
Controlled Speed Accessory Drive Demonstration Program
1981
102 pages
Report
No indication
English
Controlled Speed Accessory Drive demonstration program
NTRS | 1981
|Controlled Speed Accessory Drive Demonstration Program
NTIS | 1981
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