ENERGY CON SUMERS
Motoring is all about an energy balance. Without energy, a vehicle is just a static display and not the mode of transport (or fun driving machine) it was designed to be. It takes energy from the battery in the key fob to send a signal to open the doors; more energy from the vehicle’s auxiliary battery to light the cabin lights and instrument cluster; and another surge of power to crank the engine. This is all before the car has moved a single metre. We look at the energy-sapping components in a vehicle and investigate which portion of the energy realistically reaches the wheels.
BACKGROUND ON ENERGY
The international system of units (SI)
