Maximizing Efficiency in Automobiles: Defining and Improving Performance

[iRamie]

Homework Statement

I am in grade 11 physics and we are learning efficiency, Eout/Ein.. stuff like that.
I just have a few questions about cars:
How is efficiency defined in cars and why is it so low in cars?
What/How are we improving efficiency?

The Attempt at a Solution

I think that it is low because some of the energy gets taken up from like the sound and the friction and all that.

 

[iRamie]

Help please i need to hand in a report tomorrow :(