Enabling fuel efficient vehicles through integration of design tools and early-stage cost estimation

Summary form only given. Transportation is, on average, responsible for 27% of US greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, improvements in vehicle design improving fuel economy, and therefore reducing emissions, are an important step towards meeting emission reduction goals. The primary ways to improve vehicle fuel economy include the use of advanced powertrains, improved rolling resistance and aerodynamics, and vehicle lightweighting [1]. This research centers on lightweighting, which is complimentary to the other methods, and as such is likely to be part of any strategy aimed at reduced fuel use.