Fuel our Future Now!!!

Fuel Efficiency

What is Fuel Efficiency?

• Efficient: performing or functioning in the best way with the least waste of time and/or effort

• Fuel efficiency: using the least amount of fuel to travel the greatest distance

Why is fuel efficiency important?

• Saves money• Reduces climate change• Reduces dependency on oil/fossil fuels• Increases energy sustainability

Visit:http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/why.shtml

What effects fuel efficiency?

• Weight or mass of a vehicle

• Engine design

• Vehicle design

• Vehicle maintenance (tires, air filters, oil changes)

Today’s Vehicles

• Most common fossil fuel engines are NOT very efficient

• Only about 15% of energy from fuel (gas in the tank) moves the vehicle or runs accessories (heat, air, radio)

• The rest is lost to heat and exhaust

Today’s Vehicles

• What good do they do?

• Get us where we need to go

• Transports goods• Makes things happen

faster

• What problems do they cause?

• Accidents• Pollution

Advances in fuel efficiency!

• Green Gadgets: Smart Car

• Detroit Auto Show

How to calculate fuel efficiency:

Example:• 15 gallons of gas in a tank• 450 miles driven without refueling

How many miles did each gallon of gas take the car?

450/15= 30 miles per gallon

Calculating fuel efficiency:

Take a road trip to New York!!!

• About 600 miles from Dearborn, MI to New York, NY

• 30 miles per gallon

• 15 gallon tank

• $2.65 per gallon

Cost of driving to New York!!!

30 miles traveled on one gallon

X15 gallons in the tank

450 miles on one tank of gas

600 total miles

-450 miles on one tank of gas 150 miles left to travel

15 x $2.65= $39.75 cost for one tank of gas

150 miles left to travel

30 miles traveled on one gallon

= 5 gallons

5 gallons

X$2.65$13.25 cost of a partial tank

13.25+39.75

$53.00 one way

$106 round trip

Your task!

• Find a Car!

• Choose a car and find out how much it will cost to get to the places you want to go… or how much your parents are spending to drive you around!

• All directions and links are on the wikispace

• http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm