Modeling future automobiles: the role of industry and government

The Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) is a joint project of the “big three” US automakers and seven US government agencies. The goal of the partnership is to develop a mid‐sized car with a fuel economy of 3 liter/100km. The US Department of Energy is supporting the development of two computer codes for modeling future automobiles. PNGV and similar government/industry partnerships elsewhere in the world, some of them formed in response to PNGV, are bringing major changes – perhaps a revolution – in automobiles. The 30 years of experience by the electromagnetics modeling community may be able to contribute to this process of change.