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NEWS OF
THE MONTH: Volkswagen Challenged to Improve Fuel
Emissions
In
Germany, home of the Volkswagen, the head of the
Transport Department in the Federal Environmental
Agency, Axel Friedrich, has given Volkswagen a direct
challenge. An outspoken environmentalist, Friedrich is
putting together a campaign to get Volkswagen to make
changes that would further reduce emissions or pressure
lawmakers to mandate those changes if Volkswagen is not
willing to comply. Friedrich's latest push resulted from
a project in which engineers at several German
universities were brought together to make improvements
to a VW Gulf. By reducing weight (seats took a brunt of
this) improving aerodynamics (taking out side-mirrors to
reduce wind drag) and optimizing engine performance,
Friedrich's team of engineers were successful at
reducing emissions by 25% on the Gulf. Furthermore,
Friedrich claims all of the changes are feasible with
existing car manufacturing technologies. Volkswagen,
which has never been one to shy away from eco-friendly
practices, were slightly guarded on this one, however.
They claim that the lightweight seats are too
uncomfortable and that the use of cameras and a video
screen to show rear-view activity will drive the price
of the vehicle beyond the competitive market. This one's
not over yet though. Perhaps a middle ground can be
found and more discoveries can be built upon the one's
that Friedrich's team of engineers have impressively
made.
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