ABSTRACT
The chemist will play an expanded role in future automotive design and technology. This is largely due to the increased role desired from the four imperatives (performance, mass, cost, and environmental effects). As discussed in Chapter 4, the imperatives are interrelated to a certain extent and none is conceptually more important than another. With oil prices rising ($141.37/barrel) with no relief in site, the imperatives of cost and environment are of grave concern [1]. To deal with this, it is necessary for the chemist to play a role in new technologies. The most promising technologies for the immediate future are those concerned with hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles (including battery technology), ozone reduction, and biomaterials.
