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funding. The most recent peer review report is enclosed for your information, as are two USCAR newsletters and a publication of the partnership, "PNGV Technical Accomplishments." In addition, each of the auto companies' announcements of these prototypes at the Detroit auto show recognized the role of the PNGV in technology development.

Fuel Efficient Vehicles

Q17. On page 6 of your written testimony, you state:

"Fuel Efficient Vehicles: At the recent automobile show in Detroit, General Motors (GM) announced four passenger hybrid electric and fuel cell vehicles that can achieve fuel efficiency of up to 80 miles per gallon – production prototypes of which could be available in 2001 and 2004. Ford also unveiled a prototype of a mid-size high efficiency sedan that achieves 63 miles per gallon using an advanced diesel engine. Ford also plans to develop hybrid electric and fuel cell versions of this prototype. Chrysler unveiled its full-size experimental hybrid electric vehicle with a projected 70 miles per gallon fuel economy. These technological advances were made possible through the efforts of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles between the Administration, U.S. auto companies, and their suppliers."

Please document your statement that "These technological advances were made possible through the efforts of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles between the Administration, U.S. auto companies, and their suppliers."

A17. The Partnership for the New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV), announced by the CEO's of the Big Three automakers and the President in late 1993, established a research partnership among the Federal government agencies and labs, the auto companies (working through USCAR, their research consortium), and hundreds of suppliers and other businesses. The goals of that partnership included pursuit of near term improvements in fuel efficiency technology, as well as a longer term goal of a vehicle up to three times as efficient as current vehicles with no loss of size, performance, safety or emissions characteristics and no cost penalty.

Working together, the technical experts from seven Federal agencies, all the national labs, and the auto companies and suppliers in 1994 developed a consensus research plan for the achievement of these high efficiency goals. In 1997 the Partnership built on the results of that work and completed a consensus process narrowing of the technology focus to those industries that were most highly promising. As a part of that research plan, both industry and government research skills were focused on precisely the technologies that made possible the prototypes unveiled in Detroit, including ultra lightweight materials, hybrid drive train configurations, fuel cells, advanced energy storage, and advanced direct injection combustion engines. Federal budget requests have reflected those priorities, and various agencies have specific research projects underway with the auto companies or suppliers in each of the technology priority areas.

This work has been peer reviewed annually by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), which review these research areas and validates the research plan and choice of priority technologies. Each of the NAS reviews has called for higher resource commitments to PNGV to lower the risk of failing to reach the challenging and important goals of this program. The President's FY 1999 budget calls for an increase of $50 million in PNGV

funding. The most recent peer review report is enclosed for your information, as are two USCAR newsletters and a publication of the partnership, "PNGV Technical Accomplishments." In addition, each of the auto companies' announcements of these prototypes at the Detroit auto show recognized the role of the PNGV in technology development.

REVIEW OF THE RESEARCH PROGRAM

OF THE

PARTNERSHIP

FOR A

NEW GENERATION OF VEHICLES

THIRD REPORT

Standing Committee to Review the Research Program of the

Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles

Board on Energy and Environmental Systems
Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems
Transportation Research Board
National Research Council

NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS

NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS • 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W. • Washington, DC 20418 NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to procedures approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. William A. Wulf is interim president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Kenneth I. Shine is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts and Dr. William A. Wulf are chairman and interim vice chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council.

This report and the study on which it is based were supported by Contract No. DTNH22-94-G07414 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.

Library of Congress Catalog Number: 97-66882

International Standard Book Number: 0-309-05776-0

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Copyright 1997 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

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