Title: Transport and energy in Britain and Hungary - some observations for the future of vehicle design

Authors: L. Lesley

Addresses: Senior Lecturer, Liverpool Polytechnic, Liverpool, UK

Abstract: The development of the transport systems of Britain and Hungary are compared and their degree of motorisation assessed. The respective consumptions of energy and the energy efficiency of different modes of transport are analysed. Current trends are extrapolated to the end of the century. The demand for oil, on which transport is heavily dependent, is compared to the possible global oil supply position. Scenarios for energy development are discussed, including the substitution of oil. The different demands and constraints of passenger and freight transport are reviewed. The implications of these are discussed in the light of future vehicle design and propulsion systems. Only a limited improvement in the internal combustion engine is possible. Other energy saving and oil substitution possibilities are examined. The paper concludes that lighter vehicles and electric propulsion should be developed incrementally, and that a high density battery is needed before all oil use in transport can be substituted.

Keywords: battery systems; electrification; energy efficiency; future energy supplies; implementation; motorisation; oil dependence; oil substitution; strategy; vehicle design; vehicle weight; UK; United Kingdom; Hungary; electric vehicles.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1987.061354

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1987 Vol.8 No.2, pp.244 - 257

Published online: 25 May 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article