14
IV.
IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING FRICTION
AND WEAR
AND WEAR
Because friction has a significant effect on fuel efficiency, reducing friction will be important to
all concerned about reducing fuel consumption. This encompasses a wide range of stakeholders,
including fleet operators, individual owner operators, vehicle and engine manufacturers,
component manufacturers, lubricant suppliers, and, in fact, the general public. In addition to
being concerned about fuel efficiency, each group of stakeholders has a number of other related
concerns that also are incentives for developing new technologies. Some of those concerns are
summarized in Figure 4.
all concerned about reducing fuel consumption. This encompasses a wide range of stakeholders,
including fleet operators, individual owner operators, vehicle and engine manufacturers,
component manufacturers, lubricant suppliers, and, in fact, the general public. In addition to
being concerned about fuel efficiency, each group of stakeholders has a number of other related
concerns that also are incentives for developing new technologies. Some of those concerns are
summarized in Figure 4.
Figure 4. Drivers of Future Technology Developments in Transportation Industries
The remainder of this section discusses the views of each group of stakeholders separately. An
attempt has been made to present a combined view of several companies within each group,
based upon their presentations at the workshop plus discussions with them during the
preworkshop site visits. Some industrial contributors expressed a desire that their comments not
be attributed to them or to their companies. Therefore, to encourage open and frank discussions,
it was agreed that all comments would be kept anonymous. Apologies are offered to any of the
contributors who would have preferred to be identified.
attempt has been made to present a combined view of several companies within each group,
based upon their presentations at the workshop plus discussions with them during the
preworkshop site visits. Some industrial contributors expressed a desire that their comments not
be attributed to them or to their companies. Therefore, to encourage open and frank discussions,
it was agreed that all comments would be kept anonymous. Apologies are offered to any of the
contributors who would have preferred to be identified.