Vehicle power of the future

[Kiwi Phil]

I found this interesting.
Not sure how the outboard of the future will work, but am sure Bombardier will work something out.
(The presenter is from the English Show, "Top Gear".)

http://www.flixxy.com/gm-hy-wire-concept-car.htm

Cheers
Philli

 

[JB]

Re: Vehicle power of the future

Saw that, Phil. One of my favorite shows when they show episodes less than 8 year old. So much depends on battery development.

I have recently become a hybrid driver (Toyota Highlander Hybrid) and am hooked on at least partial electric drive.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Vehicle power of the future

Vehicle power is already here but the infrastructure isn't in place yet. Natural gas. They are starting to build one (stations) near me. Natural gas in auto's has been around for a long time. With Marcellus shale drilling it now is a lot cheaper.As with any alternative energy you need the infrastructure which is costly.Be weather it's electric or not.We (us) i doubt we will see anything like this in our lifetime. Somehow the EPA will not allow it. Europe is using the most efficient diesel today and we aren't allowed to have it because of EPA rules.The Hilux diesel is the best out there.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Vehicle power of the future

Wife wanted the Hybrid Lexus (4x4 or all-wheel drive or whatever it is). I hesitated at the cost.
Her friend has one.
She buys a 2L diesel TDI at 7L per 100k around town (? 34 mpg).
The friends Lexus I think gets around 4.5L/100k (? 52mpg).
I have a 3L TDI in my Ranger at 10L per 100k around town (? 24mpg).
Just done the books for the year and compared last 5 yrs fuel a/cs. TDI motors have halved my fuel account.
My conclusion - I will run with TDI's until the hybrids etc come down in price, then change.

You'r an ex Merc man arn't you JB?
Wifes other friend has that big all-wheel drive Merc Van thing (M series? - not sure) with a TDI and she gets around 9L 100K (26mpg) and she won't change).
You guys really got to look at these modern TDI's as a option, before alternate fuels or whatever come in.

Cheers
Phillip

 

[QC]

Re: Vehicle power of the future

One question. Where does the Hydrogen come from?

 

[QC]

Re: Vehicle power of the future

Europe is using the most efficient diesel today and we aren't allowed to have it because of EPA rules.The Hilux diesel is the best out there.

How is EPA not allowing it? With Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), both continents enioy high efficiency diesels. You can buy same thing here in the US. Look into Mercedes Bluetec. It's the market not the EPA

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Vehicle power of the future

45/50 states allow it............. I live in one of the five that does not

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Vehicle power of the future

We are a long way off from any mass move away from hydro carbons. As eluded to eailer we do not have the infrastructure to support...nor can we afford to build a infrastructure to support a mass move to alternate fuel's. Its has been a intresting few years and only time will tell if the massive invenstment will ever yeild any benefit's....2005 was was the start of mass produced Hybrid's around 2015 they will more than probably have a worse tag than the yugo or edsel....battery pack's.. electic steering.... cvt transmission's are ungodly expensive to recon....already in dealership's we are experiencing hybrid cars that have no value due to the cost of recon it's something that's quite frustating. You may very well see all mfg's leaving the hybrid electric car's completely in the next year (wind's of change)

What may be coming is advance's in fuel injection...turbo charging...cvt tranny's and metalurgy. Small displacement engine's packing huge hp and tourqe figure's that go forever. Effciency in IC engine's will be the next generation and is amazing what detriot has under the wrap's....800 hp 4.6 v8s'???? or 177 hp 1.0.....1.6 doing 250 hp....There just getting started the race is on and that we will all benefit from

 

[Stachi]

Re: Vehicle power of the future

I believe it is derived from water, and the end result of combustion is water as well.

One question. Where does the Hydrogen come from?

 

[QC]

Re: Vehicle power of the future

That's the problem ^^^^ the energy to "crack" hydrogen from water. It takes a crack addict to make sense out of it

 

[Stachi]

Re: Vehicle power of the future

I have always been amazed that the two most explosive elements on our planet (hydrogen and oxygen),when combined in the correct amounts , actually extinguish fire....