Solution to Gas problems AND Environmental concerns.

[Azadre]

This diagram describes the typical internal combustion engine.

As you can tell, over 85% of the energy is lost. In a sense you are throwing away about 2.13 if you bought your gas from a station for 2.50. Imagine going to the pumps and only paying .50 a gallon with today's oil prices. Anyone in their right mind would be ecstatic. More efficent use of gasoline would also lead to less emissions. The automobile's physical design can be changed to improve the energy loss, but it is not enough. What we need is a reinvented internal combustion. While 100% efficency is impossible, it does not mean we should settle for 15% either. If anyone knows of active research in improving the internal combustion engine, or alternative engines which run on gasoline that get at least 65% efficency, by all means post it.

 

[taper]

It's much easier said than done. Today's engines are more efficient than older ones, although not by much. A recipricating piston engine can only transfer so much of the chemical energy of the fuel into mechanical energy. Gas turbines are more efficient, but every attempt to put one in a car has been a complete and utter failure.

Hybridization is probably our best option, and is a middle step towards pure electrics, which are still a long ways off.

 

[Perfection]

Designing a more efficent engine isn't the only way we can significantly improve efficiency. If we can reduce those end requirements (by say being more aerodynamic) the energy savings will be substantial due to the engine's innefficiency.

 

[Yom]

Much much easier said than done. Cellular respiration is one of the most efficient processes (aside from burning, which is 100% efficient aside from the heat to start the fire but is a form that can't be used) but it's only 40% efficient.

 

[taper]

Little known fact, but today's high end photovoltaic cells are actually more efficient than chlorophyll at converting the sun's energy. Only problem is they cost an arm and a leg. Far more than gasoline, even at today's prices.

 

[Dida]

future cars will each be powered by a small fusion reactor. Hydrogen will be extracted from the air in real time. Cars can be run at no fuel cost, and produce no harmful emission.

 

[Narz]

I just ride a bike. 100% efficient.

 

[Perfection]

I just ride a bike. 100% efficient.

'tis not

 

[elfangor801]

I just ride a bike. 100% efficient.

I know, I love riding along the highways and yelling "Suckers!" at all the people in their GMC Yukons in gridlock . If you can, ride your bike to work!

 

[Perfection]

Much much easier said than done. Cellular respiration is one of the most efficient processes (aside from burning, which is 100% efficient aside from the heat to start the fire but is a form that can't be used) but it's only 40% efficient.

100% efficient at what?

 

[BasketCase]

A big problem with developing clean, efficient engines can be illustrated by the following snippet:

"You're a genius if you develop a car engine that runs on water--but you're an idiot if you think the oil cartel will ever let you market it."

Where did I find this snippet? None other than good ol' MAD Magazine. The issue was dated....uhhhh....I think it was 1971.

 

[Narz]

'tis not

Well it's a lot more efficient than walking.

The system man-bicycling running on a horizontal road is at least of the order of 100 times more efficient than man walking or ruing on the same horizontal plane.

http://www.papimi.gr/zeromuscleefficiency1.htm

Some forum page about bikes and efficiency.

http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-112491.html

 

[10Seven]

Little known fact, but today's high end photovoltaic cells are actually more efficient than chlorophyll at converting the sun's energy. Only problem is they cost an arm and a leg. Far more than gasoline, even at today's prices.

Last I heard photovoltaic efficiency was to chlorophyll as coal locomitive is to diesel.

Where did you here about this? Not hassling, just interested to know...

 

[10Seven]

Well it's a lot more efficient than walking.
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Ah, but you must figure in how much more food you eat, and where that food comes from and how efficient it was grown, transported, and sold Where's the Groucho smilie when you want it...

 

[amadeus]

We're well on our way to developing something like that, provided Uncle Sam doesn't step in and put arbitrary regulations on everything (as they typically do.)