Roland Franz, product marketing manager at Hella Corporate Center USA, says there are three main ways to cut energy loss from non-powertrain sources.
The energy can be switched off, it can be managed, and it can be used more efficiently.
LED are up to four times more energy-efficient than incandescent lighting Franz estimates that 50% of car taillights are now being designed with LEDs, and says he thinks car interiors will be illuminated 100% by LEDs in the near future.
“In the beginning, the cost of LEDs was prohibitive, but that is improving every year,” says Franz. Still, prices remain so steep that LED headlights are barely making inroads in premium vehicles.
Cruise control is another potential energy saver. Drive tests have shown that using cruise control can reduce fuel consumption up to 14%. Adaptive cruise control can help a driver keep the feature activated, even in heavy traffic. “There’s no one big way to save energy,” says Franz. “We’re looking at ways to save a little here and there.”