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 t wo computer codes for modeling future automobiles. PNGV and similar governm ent/industry partnerships elsewhere in the world, some of them formed in re sponse to PNGV: ave bringing major changes - perhaps a revolution - in auto mobiles. The 30 years of experience by the electromagnetics modeling commun ity may be able to contribute to this process of change.