The New Oil Crisis and Fuel Economy Technologies: Preparing the Light Transportation Industry for the 1990s

(Hardback)

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A highly readable and authoritatively written book with an important message for US industry and government in a world of long-term uncertainty of gasoline price and availability. The author argues persuasively that current low fuel prices and the relative lack of competition in the US auto market are creating an unwillingness by US car companies to innovate and take risks to improve their product. Needed product improvements relate not only to fuel economy, but also to a wide range of technological features. Choice The halcyon days of low oil prices in the 1980s are fated to give way to another major oil crisis, asserts the author of this comprehensive, carefully documented analysis. Researched under the auspices of the Federation of American Scientists, this study presses for development of automotive fuel economy technologies. Bleviss focuses on two interrelated themes--the spector of another oil crisis and its effect on the light transportation industry. Foreign makers of light vehicles are already ahead of domestic automakers in developing new fuel economy technologies. The study suggests that unless the United States moves aggressively to develop these technologies now, the nation will be unprepared for the severity of the approaching world-wide crisis and for the research advantage gained by foreign industry.

Reviews

"It is clear that the technology exists to allow every new car to use fuel more efficiently. All we lack is the foresight to apply it. This book should be on the reading list of every Member of Congress, every Senator, and--most importantly--every U.S. automobile executive."-Daniel J. Evans, United States Senator
. . . With additional sections on electric vehicles, alternatve transport fuels and the role of the "market" this is an invaluable and up-to-date resource book which deserves to find its way onto the bookshelves of anyone serious about energy policy . . .-Energy Policy
A highly readable and authoritatively written book with an important message for US industry and government in a world of long-term uncertainty of gasoline price and availability. The author argues persuasively that current low fuel prices and the relative lack of competition in the US auto market (in comparison to Japan and Europe) are creating an unwillingness by US car companies to innovate and take risks to improve their product. Needed product improvements relate not only to fuel economy, but also to a wide range of technological features. The author discusses the effects of government-industry relationships in the major car-producing regions of the world. The book contains a listing by company of research, prototype development, and production of fuel-saving (including weight-saving) features. Specific, realistic government policies to influence US automakers are provided. . . . The quality of the bibliography, references, index, printing, and binding are excellent. Upper-division and graduate collections.-Choice
Deborah Lynn Bleviss has painstakingly researched approaches to improved automobile fuel economy and has assembled them in an encyclopedic catalogue of technologies, high-efficiency production and prototype vehicles, and industry executives' and government officials' projects worldwide. The author is optimistic. She predicts that even the most remote technologies she describes will be "production ready" by the year 2000. . . . Her explanation is ambitious . . . the book is useful both as an easily understandable introduction to the technical issues and as a comprehensive reference.-Environment
." . . With additional sections on electric vehicles, alternatve transport fuels and the role of the "market" this is an invaluable and up-to-date resource book which deserves to find its way onto the bookshelves of anyone serious about energy policy . . ."-Energy Policy
"Deborah Lynn Bleviss has painstakingly researched approaches to improved automobile fuel economy and has assembled them in an encyclopedic catalogue of technologies, high-efficiency production and prototype vehicles, and industry executives' and government officials' projects worldwide. The author is optimistic. She predicts that even the most remote technologies she describes will be "production ready" by the year 2000. . . . Her explanation is ambitious . . . the book is useful both as an easily understandable introduction to the technical issues and as a comprehensive reference."-Environment
"A highly readable and authoritatively written book with an important message for US industry and government in a world of long-term uncertainty of gasoline price and availability. The author argues persuasively that current low fuel prices and the relative lack of competition in the US auto market (in comparison to Japan and Europe) are creating an unwillingness by US car companies to innovate and take risks to improve their product. Needed product improvements relate not only to fuel economy, but also to a wide range of technological features. The author discusses the effects of government-industry relationships in the major car-producing regions of the world. The book contains a listing by company of research, prototype development, and production of fuel-saving (including weight-saving) features. Specific, realistic government policies to influence US automakers are provided. . . . The quality of the bibliography, references, index, printing, and binding are excellent. Upper-division and graduate collections."-Choice

Author Bio

DEBORAH LYNN BLEVISS is Executive Director of the International Institute for Energy Conservation.