Analysis of automobile fuel consumption data reported by cope (1973) has shown that behavior obeys a simple relation between fuel consumption rate (in gal/hr/) and speed (in m.p.h.) for all vehicles tested, with and without air conditioning, with vehicles differentiated by different experimental values of three equation constants: an intrinsic efficiency parameter, a theoretical maximum velocity, and the idle consumption. These parameters determine the optimum speed for the best m.p.g. the results show that the optimum speed increases with idle losses; however, the proportional efficiency also falls. The effect of some other factors can also be identified in the equations and parameter values: air conditioning, for example, can have a large effect on a small engine or on a highly tuned engine in a light weight car, but quite minor effect on a large engine in a heavy car. Implications for the future are also discussed. (Author/publisher)
Abstract