SAE International Book Focuses on Hybrid Vehicle Design

WARRENDALE, Pa., June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With more than 20 different hybrid cars available from most major automakers, hybrid vehicles are a crucial and growing market segment. Additionally, with several high profile plug-in hybrids coming out now or within the next year, innovation and development of hybrid vehicles is continuing at an ever-growing pace. Consumers continue to focus more on miles per gallon as well as vehicle performance and practicality. In this market, impeccable engineering and precision design is essential to commercial success.

The book, Hybrid-Powered Vehicles, from SAE International provides executives and decisions makers with the necessary information for making the best choices pertaining to hybrid vehicle engineering.

The book can be pre-ordered now through the SAE International website. It is available in both paperback and ebook formats, the latter available in both complete book or by chapter downloads, available in a suite of formats that are also saved in a personalized elibrary hosted by SAE International.

Hybrid vehicles significantly reduce fuel use and provide corresponding reductions in CO2 emissions, fuel cost to consumers and criteria air pollutants from fuel refining and distribution. However, the increasing drive to market hybrid vehicles has led to a very competitive market, where continual improvements to hybrid powertrains are necessary for the success of a hybrid platform. Also, many other commercialized alternative fuel technologies, including diesels, fuel cells, electric vehicles, and high efficiency gas cars are providing additional competition to the market. Engineering of vehicles will be the differentiator for consumers.

This second edition of Hybrid-Powered Vehicles expands upon the details of the first book by detailing the major developments in the hybrid engineering world that have gained market share and traction. In addition, the author reviews the development history of hybrid vehicles while highlighting the cycles of fuel availability, fuel economy, and concern for environmental issues. The book covers a diverse number of topics in hybrid vehicle design, such as:

• The current state of hybrid technology development
• Reducing the cost of hybrid technology implementation
• Possible future enhancements of hybrid technology
• The different engineering approaches of various hybrid vehicle manufacturers
• Market factors influencing mainstream customer acceptance of new hybrid technologies
• Plug-in-hybrid vehicle (PHEV) technology and market acceptance

This book will be of high interest to automotive executives, decision-makers, managers, academics, and engineering and research professionals who must quickly understand the latest technological developments concerning hybrid vehicles. It also briefs industry professionals on the market forces that are shaping the technology and the future of hybrid vehicles in the United States. With unparalleled depth and accessibility, this book details the critical concepts that everyone in the automotive engineering industry requires to be competitive.   

Author John M. German is a Senior Fellow and Program Director for the International Council for Clean Transportation, with primary responsibility for technology innovation and United States policy development. Mr. German has been involved with advanced vehicle efficiency systems since he joined Chrysler in 1976. He also spent 13 years doing research for the EPA's Office of Mobile Sources Laboratory. Here, Mr. German wrote a multitude of standards. Prior to joining the ICCT, Mr. German spent 11 years as Manager of Environmental and Energy Analyses for American Honda Motor Company. Mr. German also holds the honor of being the first recipient of the Barry D. McNutt Award, presented by SAE International for Excellence in Automotive Policy Analysis. He holds a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Michigan.

Book Details

Published: March 2011
Pages: 140
Print Binding: Paperback
eBook Formats:  pdf, epub, prc
Product Code: T-125
ISBN: 978-0-7680-3497-4
Price: $195.00 List, $156.00-$175.00 SAE Member

For more information, including free front and back matter, or to order Hybrid-Powered Vehicles, Second Edition, visit: http://books.sae.org/book-t-125. To request an electronic review copy of the book, email [email protected] . Forward published reviews to Shawn Andreassi at [email protected]  or SAE International, 400 Commonwealth Dr., Warrendale PA, 15096-0001, to receive a print copy of the book or another equivalent SAE International book.

Other related books from SAE International include:

• The Electric and Hybrid Electric Car by Mike Westbrook
• Hybrid Gasoline-Electric Vehicle Development by John M. German

SAE International is a global association of more than 134,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International's charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series.

- www.sae.org -

Contact: Shawn Andreassi of SAE International, 1-724-772-8522 or [email protected]

SOURCE SAE International