This thesis studies what the crucial aspects are when designing and developing an in-vehicle infotainment system for light vehicles that should both extend functionality and improve safety. In order to ground the research, innovations made in automotive infotainment systems are examined and a design for a light vehicle infotainment system that utilizes optical gesture based touch interaction is proposed. This is done with the goal to provide drivers of light vehicles with the same safety and usability improvements that drivers of cars can enjoy. A research through design approach together with heuristics and cognitive walkthrough enabled rapid design iterations to be made in order to produce a prototype to be tested. In the end, a design proposal was presented which showed that there are several similar ways of thinking that can be applied to light vehicle infotainment designs compared to its automotive counterparts. During the design process, the importance of a simple menu; animations to convey spatial connections; and notifications to lower the overall visual clutter were identified as key aspects of a safe and usable infotainment system. / Denna uppsats undersöker vilka de viktigaste aspekterna i designprocessen för nya infotainmentsystem är med fokus på utökad funktionalitet och säkerhet för lätta fordon. För att grunda undersökningen så studeras framsteg gjorda inom infotainmentsystem för bilar samt andra relevanta lösningar för lätta fordon. När detta är gjort presenteras en design för ett infotainmentsystemsomanvänderoptiskgest-baserad interaktion. Detta görs med målet att förare av lätta fordon ska få samma säkerhets- och användbarhetsförbättringar som bilförare idag har. En forskning genom design (research through design) approach tillsammans med kognitiv genomgång (cognitive walkthrough) och heuristiker möjliggjorde snabba iterationer i designprocessen. I slutändan presenterades ett designförslag som påvisade att det finns flera liknande sätt att tänka vid design för lätta fordon samt för bilar. Under processen framkom det bland annat att en simpel meny; animationer som framför rumsliga förhållanden; samt notifikationer för att minska den visuella belastningen blev identifierade som nyckelpunkter vid design av ett säkert och användbart infotainmentsystem.

É cada vez maior a busca por fontes de energia alternativas com vistas à substituição dos derivados do Petróleo, em especial após a crise da década de 70. A indústria automotiva segue a mesma tendência, buscando alternativas viáveis frente à incerteza do tempo e quantidade que ainda resta de estoque de combustíveis fósseis líquidos. Além do Álcool como meio de substituição ao Diesel e a Gasolina, a utilização de GNV - Gás Natural Veicular - está entre as tecnologias atualmente consideradas viáveis e eficientes. Segundo a ANP - Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis (2006), o Brasil possui reservas comprovadas de 306,4 x 109 m3 de Gás Natural, quantidade estimada para abastecer o mercado nacional, no cenário mais pessimista, pelos próximos cinqüenta anos. A associação desses fatores resulta na busca do consumidor brasileiro pela redução dos gastos cada vez maiores com combustível e no aumento da demanda por veículos movidos a Gás Natural. Apesar da notória demanda de mercado, atualmente existem no Brasil poucas opções de veículos leves com Sistemas de Conversão originalmente instalados pelas montadoras e com manutenção da garantia de fábrica. A falta de opções de oferta abre espaço para o grande aumento do número de oficinas de conversão, freqüentemente ignorando aspectos técnicos e de legislação de conversão, na intenção de apenas obterem lucros com o aumento de demanda. Mais do que pretensiosas conclusões definitivas, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo oferecer uma pequena contribuição à indústria e à sociedade, através da análise da viabilidade técnica, econômica, ambiental e mercadológica da instalação original de fábrica de Sistema de Conversão para uso de Gás Natural em veículos leves movidos a Gasolina e / ou Álcool, frente ao atual mercado de veículos convertidos e ao aumento da demanda por fontes de energia alternativa. / The search for alternative energy sources aiming the substitution of derivate Oil products is each time higher, especially after the 70s Petroleum crisis. The automotive industry follows this trend too, looking for possible alternatives in face of the uncertainness of time and quantity available stocks of liquid fossil fuels. Besides the Ethanol as a way of Gasohol and Diesel substitution, the CNG - Compressed Natural Gas - use is nowadays considered one of the most possible and efficient technologies. According to the ANP - National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuel Agency (2006), Brazil owns 306,4 x 109 m3 of Compressed Natural Gas proved reserves, which are considered enough to supply the national market, in the worst case, for the next fifty years. The conjunction of these issues results in the Brazilian customers search for the each higher fuel expenses reduction and the raise of Compressed Natural Gas impelled vehicles demand. Despite the notorious market demand, there are nowadays on Brazil only a few options of light vehicles with Conversion System originally installed by automotive assemblers and warrantys maintenance. This lack of supply options creates a large field to the raise in the quantity of conversion workshops, frequently ignoring the technical aspects and the conversion legislation only with intent of achieving profit with the demand raise. More than pretentious definitive conclusions, the present work aims to offer a small contribution to the industry and society through the technical, economical, environmental and merchandizing practicability analysis of original assemblers installation of Conversion System to the use of Compressed Natural Gas in Gasohol and / or Ethanol impelled light vehicles, in face of the actual converted vehicles market and the demand raise for alternative energy sources.

É cada vez maior a busca por fontes de energia alternativas com vistas à substituição dos derivados do Petróleo, em especial após a crise da década de 70. A indústria automotiva segue a mesma tendência, buscando alternativas viáveis frente à incerteza do tempo e quantidade que ainda resta de estoque de combustíveis fósseis líquidos. Além do Álcool como meio de substituição ao Diesel e a Gasolina, a utilização de GNV - Gás Natural Veicular - está entre as tecnologias atualmente consideradas viáveis e eficientes. Segundo a ANP - Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis (2006), o Brasil possui reservas comprovadas de 306,4 x 109 m3 de Gás Natural, quantidade estimada para abastecer o mercado nacional, no cenário mais pessimista, pelos próximos cinqüenta anos. A associação desses fatores resulta na busca do consumidor brasileiro pela redução dos gastos cada vez maiores com combustível e no aumento da demanda por veículos movidos a Gás Natural. Apesar da notória demanda de mercado, atualmente existem no Brasil poucas opções de veículos leves com Sistemas de Conversão originalmente instalados pelas montadoras e com manutenção da garantia de fábrica. A falta de opções de oferta abre espaço para o grande aumento do número de oficinas de conversão, freqüentemente ignorando aspectos técnicos e de legislação de conversão, na intenção de apenas obterem lucros com o aumento de demanda. Mais do que pretensiosas conclusões definitivas, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo oferecer uma pequena contribuição à indústria e à sociedade, através da análise da viabilidade técnica, econômica, ambiental e mercadológica da instalação original de fábrica de Sistema de Conversão para uso de Gás Natural em veículos leves movidos a Gasolina e / ou Álcool, frente ao atual mercado de veículos convertidos e ao aumento da demanda por fontes de energia alternativa. / The search for alternative energy sources aiming the substitution of derivate Oil products is each time higher, especially after the 70s Petroleum crisis. The automotive industry follows this trend too, looking for possible alternatives in face of the uncertainness of time and quantity available stocks of liquid fossil fuels. Besides the Ethanol as a way of Gasohol and Diesel substitution, the CNG - Compressed Natural Gas - use is nowadays considered one of the most possible and efficient technologies. According to the ANP - National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuel Agency (2006), Brazil owns 306,4 x 109 m3 of Compressed Natural Gas proved reserves, which are considered enough to supply the national market, in the worst case, for the next fifty years. The conjunction of these issues results in the Brazilian customers search for the each higher fuel expenses reduction and the raise of Compressed Natural Gas impelled vehicles demand. Despite the notorious market demand, there are nowadays on Brazil only a few options of light vehicles with Conversion System originally installed by automotive assemblers and warrantys maintenance. This lack of supply options creates a large field to the raise in the quantity of conversion workshops, frequently ignoring the technical aspects and the conversion legislation only with intent of achieving profit with the demand raise. More than pretentious definitive conclusions, the present work aims to offer a small contribution to the industry and society through the technical, economical, environmental and merchandizing practicability analysis of original assemblers installation of Conversion System to the use of Compressed Natural Gas in Gasohol and / or Ethanol impelled light vehicles, in face of the actual converted vehicles market and the demand raise for alternative energy sources.

The United States is the world's largest oil consumer demanding about twenty five percent of the total world oil production. Whenever there are difficulties to supply the increasing quantities of oil demanded by the market, the price of oil escalates leading to what is known as oil price spikes or oil price shocks. The last oil price shock which was the longest sustained oil price run up in history, began its course in year 2004, and ended in 2008. This last oil price shock initiated recognizable changes in transportation dynamics: transit operators realized that commuters switched to transit as a way to save gasoline costs, consumers began to search the market for more efficient vehicles leading car manufactures to close 'gas guzzlers' plants, and the government enacted a new law entitled the Energy Independence Act of 2007, which called for the progressive improvement of the fuel efficiency indicator of the light vehicle fleet up to 35 miles per gallon in year 2020. The past trend of gasoline consumption will probably change; so in the context of the problem a gasoline consumption model was developed in this thesis to ascertain how some of the changes will impact future gasoline demand. Gasoline demand was expressed in oil equivalent million barrels per day, in a two steps Ordinary Least Square (OLS) explanatory variable model. In the first step, vehicle miles traveled expressed in trillion vehicle miles was regressed on the independent variables: vehicles expressed in million vehicles, and price of oil expressed in dollars per barrel. In the second step, the fuel consumption in million barrels per day was regressed on vehicle miles traveled, and on the fuel efficiency indicator expressed in miles per gallon. The explanatory model was run in EVIEWS that allows checking for normality, heteroskedasticty, and serial correlation. Serial correlation was addressed by inclusion of autoregressive or moving average error correction terms. Multicollinearity was solved by first differencing. The 36 year sample series set (1970-2006) was divided into a 30 years sub-period for calibration and a 6 year "hold-out" sub-period for validation. The Root Mean Square Error or RMSE criterion was adopted to select the "best model" among other possible choices, although other criteria were also recorded. Three scenarios for the size of the light vehicle fleet in a forecasting period up to 2020 were created. These scenarios were equivalent to growth rates of 2.1, 1.28, and about 1 per cent per year. The last or more optimistic vehicle growth scenario, from the gasoline consumption perspective, appeared consistent with the theory of vehicle saturation. One scenario for the average miles per gallon indicator was created for each one of the size of fleet indicators by distributing the fleet every year assuming a 7 percent replacement rate. Three scenarios for the price of oil were also created: the first one used the average price of oil in the sample since 1970, the second was obtained by extending the price trend by exponential smoothing, and the third one used a longtime forecast supplied by the Energy Information Administration. The three scenarios created for the price of oil covered a range between a low of about 42 dollars per barrel to highs in the low 100's. The 1970-2006 gasoline consumption trend was extended to year 2020 by ARIMA Box-Jenkins time series analysis, leading to a gasoline consumption value of about 10 millions barrels per day in year 2020. This trend line was taken as the reference or baseline of gasoline consumption. The savings that resulted by application of the explanatory variable OLS model were measured against such a baseline of gasoline consumption. Even on the most pessimistic scenario the savings obtained by the progressive improvement of the fuel efficiency indicator seem enough to offset the increase in consumption that otherwise would have occurred by extension of the trend, leaving consumption at the 2006 levels or about 9 million barrels per day. The most optimistic scenario led to savings up to about 2 million barrels per day below the 2006 level or about 3 millions barrels per day below the baseline in 2020. The "expected" or average consumption in 2020 is about 8 million barrels per day, 2 million barrels below the baseline or 1 million below the 2006 consumption level. More savings are possible if technologies such as plug-in hybrids that have been already implemented in other countries take over soon, are efficiently promoted, or are given incentives or subsidies such as tax credits. The savings in gasoline consumption may in the future contribute to stabilize the price of oil as worldwide demand is tamed by oil saving policy changes implemented in the United States.

Role-players in the South African automotive industry have responded positively to the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP) policy regime. Since 1995, South African light motor vehicle manufacturers (original equipment manufacturers – OEMs) have become fully integrated into the global networks of their foreign parent companies. As South Africa‟s leading manufacturing sector, the increasing importance of the automotive sector is reflected in its exports, investments and contribution to the country‟s gross domestic product. The objective of this study was to analyse the impact of the MIDP on the export strategies of the South African light motor vehicle manufacturers (1995–2008). The main findings of the research are that, since 1995, the MIDP has been the primary factor impacting on the export strategies of South African OEMs. Without the programme, the industry would not have been able to cope with global competition. It is important to note that without the MIDP there would have been no significant growth in exports from South Africa. The research found that the country‟s trade arrangements with the EU and the USA have enhanced the impact of the MIDP. It was also found that, given South Africa‟s distance to foreign markets, the most important constraint when accessing these markets is the cost of logistics. In addition, the most important determinant of foreign-market pricing when setting the export price, aligned with the influence of the OEM parent companies, is costs relating to manufacturing, transportation and marketing. The role played by the MIDP in sourcing decisions is the most important factor that has contributed to an increase in light vehicle exports. Furthermore, the perceived level of influence when determining new export destinations would seem to be higher for the US-based and the Japanese-based OEMs than the European-based OEMs. The new Automotive Production Development Programme (APDP) (to be introduced in 2013), which aims to double vehicle production to 1,2 million units by 2020, will reflect a quantum leap in terms of processes, technologies and the scale on which the domestic industry currently operates. In order for the South African automotive industry to achieve both its and government‟s objectives it will require priority attention. / Business Management / D. Comm. (Business Management))

Role-players in the South African automotive industry have responded positively to the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP) policy regime. Since 1995, South African light motor vehicle manufacturers (original equipment manufacturers – OEMs) have become fully integrated into the global networks of their foreign parent companies. As South Africa‟s leading manufacturing sector, the increasing importance of the automotive sector is reflected in its exports, investments and contribution to the country‟s gross domestic product. The objective of this study was to analyse the impact of the MIDP on the export strategies of the South African light motor vehicle manufacturers (1995–2008). The main findings of the research are that, since 1995, the MIDP has been the primary factor impacting on the export strategies of South African OEMs. Without the programme, the industry would not have been able to cope with global competition. It is important to note that without the MIDP there would have been no significant growth in exports from South Africa. The research found that the country‟s trade arrangements with the EU and the USA have enhanced the impact of the MIDP. It was also found that, given South Africa‟s distance to foreign markets, the most important constraint when accessing these markets is the cost of logistics. In addition, the most important determinant of foreign-market pricing when setting the export price, aligned with the influence of the OEM parent companies, is costs relating to manufacturing, transportation and marketing. The role played by the MIDP in sourcing decisions is the most important factor that has contributed to an increase in light vehicle exports. Furthermore, the perceived level of influence when determining new export destinations would seem to be higher for the US-based and the Japanese-based OEMs than the European-based OEMs. The new Automotive Production Development Programme (APDP) (to be introduced in 2013), which aims to double vehicle production to 1,2 million units by 2020, will reflect a quantum leap in terms of processes, technologies and the scale on which the domestic industry currently operates. In order for the South African automotive industry to achieve both its and government‟s objectives it will require priority attention. / Business Management / D. Comm. (Business Management))

Tesis por compendio / [ES] El objetivo principal de esta tesis es establecer una metodología para predecir el consumo de combustible y las emisiones de un motor de encendido por compresión en condiciones transitorias. Además, su objetivo es explorar cómo las diferentes configuraciones del motor y los factores ambientales impactan el comportamiento del motor utilizando un enfoque de modelado 0D/1D. Además, el estudio pretende extender esta metodología a los motores duales, analizando específicamente las características de combustión de metano-diésel e hidrógeno-diésel. Para lograrlo, la herramienta de modelado 0D/1D se ajustó y validó meticulosamente utilizando un motor diésel de cuatro cilindros. Esta alineación entre la simulación y datos experimentales se centró especialmente en factores cruciales como la presión, la liberación de calor, las temperaturas en los fluidos del motor y el par. Se realizó un análisis exhaustivo del Balance Energético Global (GEB) utilizando VEMOD (Virtual Engine Model). Este análisis proporcionó información detallada sobre el consumo del motor y su reacción en diversas condiciones de funcionamiento, particularmente durante el Ciclo de ensayo mundial armonizado de vehículos ligeros (WLTC). La comparación de términos energéticos entre diferentes condiciones ambientales y de motor destacó aspectos como la fricción, la transferencia de calor y la acumulación de calor. Además, el análisis GEB permitió explorar cómo se distribuía la energía con diferentes temperaturas y altitudes ambientes. El estudio también evaluó las emisiones de NOx, revelando patrones influenciados por factores como las tasas de recirculación de gases de escape (EGR) y la temperatura de admisión. En el ámbito de los motores de combustible dual, se elaboró y validó un modelo de combustión utilizando la herramienta de simulación 0D/1D. La atención inicial se centró en la combustión de metano-Diesel, validada con datos experimentales. Posteriormente, el alcance de este modelo se amplió para simular la combustión de hidrógeno-Diesel. Esta tesis ha introducido con éxito una metodología que utiliza VEMOD para predecir el consumo y las emisiones del motor en distintos escenarios. El análisis exhaustivo arrojó luz sobre cómo funcionan los mecanismos de distribución de energía y cómo diferentes factores influyen en el comportamiento del motor. La aplicación de esta metodología a motores de encendido por compresión ha demostrado su versatilidad y capacidad de predicción, lo que la convierte en una herramienta valiosa para investigar escenarios futuros, también con combustiones duales. / [CA] L'objectiu principal d'aquesta tesi és establir una metodologia per predir el consum de combustible i les emissions d'un motor d'encesa per compressió en condicions transitòries. A més, pretén explorar com diferents configuracions de motors i factors ambientals afecten el comportament del motor mitjançant un enfocament de modelització 0D/1D. A més, l'estudi s'esforça a estendre aquesta metodologia als motors de doble combustible (duals), analitzant específicament les característiques de combustió de metà-dièsel i hidrogendièsel. Per aconseguir-ho, l'eina de modelització 0D/1D es va ajustar minuciosament i es va validar mitjançant un motor dièsel de quatre cilindres. Aquesta alineació entre dades de simulació i món real es va centrar especialment en factors crucials com la pressió, l'alliberament de calor, les temperatures dels fluids del motor i el parell. Es va realitzar una anàlisi completa del Balanç Global d'Energia (GEB) mitjançant VEMOD (Virtual Engine Model). Aquesta anàlisi va proporcionar una visió profunda sobre el consum del motor i la seua reacció en diverses condicions de funcionament, especialment durant el Cicle mundial d'assaig de vehicles lleugers harmonitzats (WLTC). La comparació de termes energètics entre diferents condicions ambientals i del motor van posar de manifest aspectes com la fricció, la transferència de calor i l'acumulació de calor. A més, l'anàlisi GEB va explorar com es va distribuir l'energia amb diferents temperatures i altituds ambientals. L'estudi també va valorar les emissions de NOx, revelant patrons influenciats per factors com la recirculació de gasos d'escapament (EGR) i la temperatura d'admissió. En l'àmbit dels motors duals, es va elaborar i validar un model de combustió mitjançant l'eina de simulació 0D/1D. El focus inicial es va centrar en la combustió metà-Diesel, validada amb dades experimentals. Posteriorment, l'abast d'aquest model es va ampliar per simular la combustió hidrogen-Diesel. Aquesta tesi ha introduït amb èxit una metodologia que utilitza VEMOD per predir el consum i les emissions del motor en diferents escenaris. L'anàlisi completa va donar llum a com funcionen els mecanismes de distribució d'energia i com diferents factors influeixen en el comportament del motor. L'aplicació d'aquesta metodologia als motors d'encesa per compressió va demostrar la seva versatilitat i capacitats de predicció, convertint-la en una valuosa eina per investigar els futurs escenaris, fins i tot amb combustions duals. / [EN] The main aim of this thesis is to establish a methodology for predicting fuel consumption and emissions of a compression ignition engine in transient conditions. Additionally, it aims to explore how different engine setups and environmental factors impact the engine's performance using a 0D/1D modelling approach. Moreover, the study strives to extend this methodology to dual fuel engines, specifically analysing methane-Diesel and hydrogen- Diesel combustion characteristics. The 0D/1D modelling tool was meticulously fine-tuned and validated using a four-cylinder Diesel engine to achieve this. This alignment between simulation and experimental data focused on crucial factors such as pressure, heat release, engine fluid temperatures and torque. A comprehensive Global Energy Balance (GEB) analysis was conducted using VEMOD (Virtual Engine Model). This analysis provided insights into the engine consumption and performance under diverse operating conditions, particularly during the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC). The comparison of energy terms across different engine and boundary conditions highlighted aspects such as friction, heat rejection, and heat accumulation. Additionally, the GEB analysis allowed exploration of how energy was split across varying ambient temperatures and altitudes. The study also assessed NOx emissions, revealing patterns influenced by factors such as Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) rates and intake temperature. A combustion model was developed and validated using the 0D/1D simulation tool in the scope of dual fuel engines. The initial focus was on methane-Diesel combustion, validated against experimental data. Subsequently, this model scope was expanded to simulate hydrogen-Diesel combustion. This thesis has successfully introduced a methodology based on VEMOD to predict engine consumption and emissions across varying scenarios. The comprehensive analysis illuminated how energy distribution mechanisms operate and how factors influence engine performances. The application of this methodology to compression ignition engines demonstrated its versatility and prediction capabilities, making it a valuable tool for investigating future combustion scenarios, including dual fuel operation. / This research has been partially funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement 723976 (“DiePeR”) and by the Spanish government under the grant agreement TRA2017-89894-R (”MECOEM”) and I was supported by FPI grant with reference PRE2018-084411. / Artham, S. (2023). Contribution to the simulation of new standard testing cycles by means of a 0D/1D tool [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/201238 / Compendio