7.4


Student A Fuel sources


1 Flexibility


• Flexibility is important. Can the technology be applied to different types of vehicle, e.g., for family use, sport, transport?


• New developments: if a fuel source can be upgraded without the need for extensive reworking of the car, as new cells become available, costs can be kept down.


• It may be possible to produce alternative fuel sources using a range of materials. However, this may restrict potential applications/lifespan.


Student B Fuel sources


2 Manufacturing


• Costs: industry will not consider manufacturing new technology until it is clear that this will be profitable.


• Tools: can existing machinery be adapted for production? What will be the cost and timeframe for developing any new machinery?


• Can the existing labour force carry out production without the need for extensive retraining?


• The manufacturing process may be subject to special (potentially costly) regulation, e.g., because it is dangerous to workers or environmentally unfriendly.


Student C Fuel sources


3 Power and efficiency


• In engineering terms: what is the rate of conversion of energy to electricity? Are there any limits on the maximum efficiency?


• For marketing: technical data for the fuel source is important; marketing people will use it to sell the cars.


• Driving conditions: for the international market, the power source must maintain efficiency under a variety of operating conditions – especially climate and the demands of cruising/stop-start driving.


Student D Fuel sources


4 User concerns


• Any inconvenience or potential risk to the buyer will be very unpopular: • Will any new training or licence be required to drive the new vehicle?


• Is the vehicle clean, comfortable and quiet?


• Is the power source safe, especially if damaged in an accident?


• Is maintenance quick and reasonably cheap – and are workshops easy to find?


• Environmental profile: the new technology will be more attractive if it is ‘clean’ in terms of its production, use and eventual disposal.


104


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134