Pipe Dream; February 1994; Scientific American Magazine; by Stix; 2 Page(s)

The White House has called for a transformation of the machine that epitomizes the American dream--and also consumes billions of gallons of gasoline while spewing a mix of pollutants that generates up to half the ozone that engulfs major cities.

This government collaboration with the automobile industry, referred to informally as the clean-car initiative, would come up with a vehicle having three times better fuel efficiency. It will also focus on nonpolluting substitutes or improvements for the internal-combustion engine, advanced materials, as well as better manufacturing methods and technologies that enhance automobile safety. The roster of government participants includes the departments of energy, defense, commerce and transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation. They are joined by the Big Three automakers.