Jan 25 2011
A recent report published in the Strategy Analytics titled "Emission Mandates Boost Automotive Gas Sensors," has predicted that more stringent laws on curbing gas pollution in automobiles could mean an upsurge of the use of gas sensors in vehicles to the extent of around 177 million by the year 2017.
The report further states that, besides gas sensors, which are actually oxygen sensors, other sensors that will be in demand are those that will sense the presence of nitrogen oxide in vehicles that are fueled by diesel and lead burn. Besides these, there will also be a need for sensors that will check the quality of the air in car cabins called the AQS. Some sensors being developed presently are those that will sense ammonia emissions through exhaust pipes and others to track the leakage of hydrogen present in fuel cells.
The report also claims that manufacturers are constantly trying to improve the quality of their sensors with greater performance parameters, become more competitive in an effort to provide cost-effective, flexible and compact sensors. MEMS technology has also helped to make the AQS sensors smaller in size. Latest versions of accurate wideband oxygen sensors will also meet the growing demand for the latest models of direct injected engines.
According to Chris Webber, vice president at Global Automotive Practice, local conditions would have to be taken into consideration before manufacturing sensors to suit a particular region.