9 Michigan Companies to Improve Vehicles
Posted By Admin on August 29, 2011
WXYZ – More than $45 Million is headed Michigans way from the US Department of Energy.
Nine companies will reap the benefits of government funding to develop advanced vehicle technology. Ideas that will get more attention include: lighter weight components, batteries that last longer and are less expensive, improved engines, better fuel and lubricants and other things.
The plan is that the improved refinement of the vehicles will take us to the recently announced fuel standards guidelines. Those standards, announced last month by President Obama, will bring fuel economy to 54.5 miles to a gallon of gas for cars and light trucks by the year 2025. The goal is to save you, the consumer, more than a trillion dollars in the cost of gasoline and cutback on our reliance of oil. The projection would be to trim the amount of oil we use by 12 billions barrels.
There is also an effort underway to improve fuel efficiency of heavy trucks and vehicles, including buses. Energy Secretary Steven Chu says, The Department of Energy is investing in new advanced technologies that will significantly improve vehicle fuel economy, save consumers money, and create skilled jobs for Americans. He adds, Investments in the next generation of autos will strengthen our economy and lead to a more fuel-efficient, clean energy future.
The 9 Michigan companies that will be involved in this project are: Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Chrysler Group, The United States Automotive Materials Partnership, Vehma International of America, and DENSO International America.
This is part of national endeavor and Michigan is just one of the 15 states included. The Energy Department is funding $175 million over the next 5 years to those involved in this effort.
To see a list of all the projects that are addressing the technology issues, go to:
http://
www.eere.energy.gov/topics/vehicles.html
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