September 6, 2007

SHOULD HAVE RAISED PRICES EARLIER:

Carmakers Switching to Electric Motors (TOM KRISHER, 9/06/07, AP)

The power steering pump is likely to be the first casualty. Toyota Motor Corp., General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. already have electric power steering on some models, with more in the works, and they report fuel efficiency gains of up to 8 percent.

Other manufacturers and parts suppliers also are using or developing the motors, which could spread to air conditioning and power brake assist devices run by belts that suck power from the engine.

"It's one of the top technologies on percent of fuel returned for the dollar that you put in," said Ali Jammoul, Ford's chief engineer for chassis in North America. "All that parasitic drag is gone when you remove the pump off the engine."

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 6, 2007 9:40 AM
Comments

The frightening thing about this article is that it took them so long.

They could have done any of this 2-30 years ago.

Years ago, Forbes carried an article about a retired executive that invented and tried to sell the auto industry on a far more efficient electric window system

(the old system tied a needlessly powerful motor to the OLD assembly of the old hand crank - which needed an overly large moment arm to move the weight of the window).

Corporations are stupid, and the bigger corporations may just be the most stupid of all. As long as we are doing social engineering, let's pass a law limiting corporate lifespans to 20-30 years. We'd all be better off in the long run.

Posted by: Bruno at September 6, 2007 10:11 AM

I just bought a Volkswagen with electric power steering. It doesn't feel like there's any power steering in there at all.

Posted by: Mike Morley at September 6, 2007 10:22 AM

Mike:

I believe most or all VAG cars have variable boost on the power steering (electric or hydraulic), depending on the speed of the car. It will probably feel heavier at lower speeds and lighter at higher ones. Have a service rep drive it the next time you bring it in for service.

Posted by: Rick T. at September 6, 2007 11:40 AM
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