Fuel Economy Improvement of Low-Cost Green Car using Cold Air Intake and Hybrid Powertrain

Low-Cost Green Cars (LCGC) have gained popularity as an affordable and environmentally friendly transportation solution, particularly in urban settings. However, further improvements in their fuel efficiency remain critical to reduce overall fuel consumption and emissions in densely populated regions. This study investigates the potential of a Cold Air Intake (CAI) system to enhance the fuel economy of an LCGC vehicle and explores its integration with a hybrid powertrain for broader operational benefits. The experimental approach involves a comparative analysis of the vehicle's performance under two configurations: the standard (stock) air intake and a retrofitted CAI system. Fuel consumption measurements were conducted under controlled conditions, with the vehicle operating at a constant speed of 80 km/h on an expressway to ensure consistency and minimize external variability. The results indicate an 18% reduction in fuel consumption with the CAI system compared to the stock configuration, accompanied by a 1 °C lower intake air temperature, supporting the hypothesis that cooler intake air improves combustion efficiency. While the benefits are most significant in expressway driving, integrating CAI with hybrid powertrains could extend efficiency gains to stop-and-go urban conditions by using electric propulsion in low-speed scenarios and the CAI-enhanced engine during cruising. These findings suggest that the combined adoption of CAI and hybrid systems offers a practical and scalable strategy for enhancing LCGC performance, with potential for substantial fuel savings and emission reductions across diverse driving environments.