Determination of Weight Elasticity
of Fuel Economy for
Conventional ICE Vehicles,
Hybrid Vehicles and
Fuel Cell Vehicles

Overview of Results
In the literature survey, the most suitable results are found for ICE vehicles. The result values are in a range of 4.5 % to 6 % fuel consumption reduction per 10 % weight saving and 0.15 l/100 km to 0.7 l/100 km fuel consumption reduction per 100 kg weight saving respectively. These results are drawn from papers that include those submitted by the automobile, steel and aluminium industries.

In most of the literature sources the boundary conditions of measurements or statements are not always clearly defined. One very valuable source was found in a paper by H Wallentowitz [See Literature Reference No. WAL00].  Using a simulation approach, the vehicle weight reduction was determined considering primary and secondary weight saving effects. The simulations were conducted for vehicles with base weight, for vehicles with reduced weight and for vehicles that reduce weight and re-sized powertrains. All simulations are done for three vehicles classes, five propulsion systems and two driving cycles. As a software the widely spread tool Matlab/Simulink® was used. The simulation results are displayed in Fig. 1-1 and Fig. 1-2 on page 6 of the report. 

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