DuPont Automotive Global Technical Director David Glasscock identified several ways the global materials science company can collaborate with automakers to reach ambitious, proposed 54.5 mpg fuel economy standards on model year 2017-2025 passenger cars and trucks.
Glasscock is commenting on the proposal announced today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to set stronger fuel economy and greenhouse gas pollution standards for 2017-2025 model-year vehicles.
"The industry is clearly focused to improve fuel economy and meet consumer demand for vehicle performance using a multitude of innovative technologies," said Glasscock. "At the heart of all these is materials science."
Examples of active, cost-effective fuel-saving programs include:
- high-performance plastics and composites to continue to replace metals and reduce vehicle weight;
- high-performance materials to reduce rolling resistance in tires and friction in moving parts to improve the vehicle's efficiency;
- development of advanced battery separator materials and battery chemistry to improve performance.
"The culmination of many technologies will help automakers reach these stretch goals," said Glasscock. "We know we need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. We now see we need to get there faster, driving collaboration throughout the value chain to ensure affordable ideas get quickly to market."
Stepping up to the challenge, DuPont this year invested in new collaboration centers in India, Korea and China to complement the existing facilities in North America, Europe and Japan. DuPont last year launched more than 1,700 new products and invested 22 percent of its $1.7 billion R&D budget on developing new chemistry and materials to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
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DuPont offers more than 100 materials and product families for the global automotive industry. Through its global application development network, DuPont Automotive is committed to collaborating with customers throughout the value chain to develop new products, materials, components and systems that help reduce dependence on fossil fuels and protect people and the environment. For more information, visit automotive.dupont.com.
DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.
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