Delphi Technologies Can Help Automakers Develop Fuel Efficient Vehicles

    TROY, Mich., Aug. 14 While the government-industry
partnership's 1993 dream of an affordable 80 mpg vehicle by 2004 may not
become a reality just yet, Delphi Automotive Systems is developing
technologies that will help improve fuel economy and reduce emissions, moving
the industry closer to the 80 mpg goal.  "We are working with our customers to
develop solutions to help reduce fuel usage and reduce the amount of emissions
emitted from vehicles," said Donald L. Runkle, executive vice president and
board member of Delphi Automotive Systems and president of Delphi's Dynamics &
Propulsion sector.  "While 80 mpg isn't possible yet, technologies such as
cylinder deactivation, gasoline direct injection and start-stop generators are
helping automakers get closer to their target of improved fuel economy."
    
    According to the National Research Council, the number of cars on the road
in the United Sates has grown 17 percent since 1993.  The number of miles
traveled has increased 18 percent, the amount of petroleum used is up 20
percent and the proportion of petroleum imported into the United States jumped
from 44 percent in 1995 to 52 percent in 2000.  These statistics provide
additional motivation for the design and development of fuel-efficient
technologies.

    Delphi has introduced several industry-first technologies to improve fuel
economy, among other environmental benefits, since the 1970s.  Today, the
company has a broad portfolio of products designed to reduce fuel or energy
consumption while diminishing the impact of motor vehicles on the environment.
Some of Delphi's technologies that deliver significant performance and fuel
savings benefits of up to 15 percent include:

    Cylinder Deactivation -- Cylinder deactivation deactivates engine
cylinders during low-load conditions for improved fuel economy.  For example,
the engine controller directs the engine to generate power from only four of
eight cylinders when idling in traffic.  When in the four-cylinder mode, fuel
and spark is not delivered to half of the cylinders, ensuring improved fuel
economy.

    Energen 5 -- Delphi's stop-start system, Energen 5, uses a combined
starter/alternator in the conventional generator position, allowing the engine
to be automatically shut down when the vehicle is stopped and restarted almost
instantaneously when the accelerator is pressed.  Fuel savings could reach
more than five percent with such a system and more than 10 percent with
Energen 10, the next generation system for light trucks and sport utility
vehicles.

    Gasoline Direct Injection -- gasoline direct injection improves air/fuel
combustion efficiency in the engine and reduces pumping loses.  To maximize
fuel economy benefits, injectors are mounted in the center of the combustion
chamber.  Gasoline is injected directly into the combustion chamber resulting
in an anticipated fuel economy of up to 15 percent.

    Variable Load Control -- Variable Load Control provides continuously
variable intake valve timing and lift for improved engine efficiency, torque
and power.  Variable load control can potentially provide six-to-eight percent
fuel efficiency and when combined with cam phasing, fuel economy could
increase to eight to ten percent.  VLC is a mechanical, banked modular system
in which intake and exhaust valves are activated by the crank shaft, however
the powertrain control module (PCM) can alter the valve profiles resulting in
the ability to control a predetermined combination of lift, duration and phase
for intake or exhaust valves.

    Cam Phasing -- Cam phasing allows for continuous modification of the
amount of air entering a cylinder to optimize the power output of the engine
to match the engine load in different driving conditions.  The result is
better power and fuel economy with lower NOx and hydrocarbon emissions. Cam
phasing provides both improved transient control and improved distribution of
exhaust gas diluent relative to EGR systems.

    Composites -- Advanced composite materials offer tremendous advantages to
commercial vehicle and automotive manufacturers.  Composites are up to 80
percent lighter than steel helping to provide improved fuel economy, lower
emissions, and increased payload capacity.  If utilized everywhere possible in
a given vehicle, lightweight composites could reduce total vehicle weight of
4,000 pounds by approximately 800 pounds.  For example, Delphi has developed a
composite bumper using a hybrid glass and carbon fiber design weighing up to
70 pounds less than its steel equivalent.

    E*STEER(TM) -- E*STEER is an all-electric, engine independent power
steering system that eliminates the traditional power steering pump, hose,
hydraulic fluid and drive belt and pulley on the engine.  E*STEER dramatically
improves fuel economy performance saving consumers up to four percent compared
to a hydraulic power steering system.  E*STEER is entering the U.S. market in
2003.

    "As the federal government and automakers continue to review and debate
the topics of fuel economy and emissions, Delphi is ready to meet both group's
needs with near-term and long-term solutions to improve the internal
combustion engine," Runkle said.