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Car Tech: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car?
- 5/3/07 11:55 AM
hybrid safety
by geeman1082 - 5/29/07 11:58 AM In reply to: battery chemistry by mariswlegitimate concerns, to be sure, and it pays to be informed ... here are a few related articles fyi ... and there are many, many more out there within easy google reach ...
http://autos.msn.com/advice/CRArt.aspx?contentid=4023717
http://cartalk.com/board/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=404274&Main=399884
Regards,
Greg
Would Not Consider
by LWPW - 5/3/07 5:11 AM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
In 1962 just before my discharge from the Army, our transportation battalion received a new Dodge two and a half ton Army vehicle for testing. It was supposed to operate on any fuel or mixture of fuels. As I had left before we were able to start the testing, I do not know whatever happened with it.
Since that time, I have researched to find any info on this and have never found same. I remember that Dodge had tested it before we received it with only great performance, as we were told.
The reason I would not consider an alternative vehicle, I do not trust big oil. I might buy a vehicle only to find in a couple of years my fuels needed would disappear through politics or who knows what with big oil. Also in 1953 when I was in training at a Sun Oil Company training station, it was reported there was invented a carburetor that obtained a hundred miles per gallon gasoline mark.
If so, how did it disappear?
1953 -1962
by capt36 - 5/3/07 5:34 AM In reply to: Would Not Consider by LWPWThe 'Deuce-&-a-half' as we called in 1969 (Vietnam) was a standard-fare vehicle for the armed forces. I worked on them. The engine you are probably referring to was a diesel engine manufactured by Continental Engine Co. (Not related to the Lincoln Continental.) That engine was called a multi-fuel. Given it was built for combat area use, and different fuels very well could be in short supply, it had to be able to use various other fuels, including heating oil, gasoline, all of varing quality. That's what they were referring to.
As for the carburetor, everyone mentions it, but no one can ever produce so much as a photograph of one. Could be folklore. But think about it. I remember 1953 vintage cars. Most were six cylinder, with no pollution equipment. Few had air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, automatic transmissions, or any other luxuries, so there was little drain on the power produced. Couple that with point-type ignition, which could be greatly adjusted for advance timing, and it wasn't uncommon to be able to lean most engines fuel mixtures out considerably. I remember a 1958 Ford V8 I had that easily ran at about 30 miles per gallon; and that was a V8. Given that cars today are lighter in weight, have better tire design, and many are four cylinders with electronic ignition with computer analysis many times a second, I would certainly hope that 50mpg would be accomplished. Americans just need to get out of their humongous SUV's. There's no need for them. Congress even passed legislation years ago to declassify SUV's so they don't have to comply with EPA regs for mpg ratings. But the average American doesn't want to bothered with the details. Ignorance is bliss today. It'll go on until enough of their children have asthma, or lead poisoning, or worse, and the pollution chokes off various resources; then, and only then, will the powers to be do something. Some things don't change.
Myth busters
by Andy77e - 5/5/07 2:50 PM In reply to: Would Not Consider by LWPWThe fisher carb was a myth. There was some con-man that ran around claiming he made a carb that got 100 miles to the gallon, which is a joke. Anyway, he ran around for few years, and eventually most people figured out it was a scam because he never let anyone test it, or examine it. Somehow this dumb myth has stayed alive for years and years.
Further, GM came out with a 100 mpg car in the 80s. But of course in order to make it get that kind of mileage, it was made nearly completely of plastic. I death trap that would disintegrate on impact with a twig in the road. In order to meet safety standards, they would have had to redesign it, and likely not achieve even close to the same mpg. So they canned the project.
But no, the carb didn't disappear. It never existed.
Maybe later when more alternative fuels are available
by clsmith - 5/3/07 5:33 AM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I watched "Future Cars" on TDC/TSC and was intrigued by the number of great alternative cars out there. A couple in their infancy are a return to water and one that runs on compressed air. The one I am most interested in is Hydrogen - the only emission is water and an accident will NOT yeild a nuclear explosion. If I remember correctly, Holland has developed a hydrogen fuel pump that uses electrolysis to separate water into oxygen and hydrogen at the pump and can run on solar cells or standard electric power. That would be the icing on the cake. I am just waiting for the pumps to make it onto the world-wide scene and the cars to go more than 250 miles on a fillup.
BIO DIESEL!!!!!!
by nospeedctrl - 5/3/07 5:46 AM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Unfortunately i see many times the thought of "diesel" is not what something everybody wants to deal with. The fact of the matter is while yes, it is more expensive, and to make more fuel economy (1 ton + trucks) you need to get rid of the factory components and put aftermarket on.
First though, my friends and i make OUR OWN BIO DIESEL for less than $1.00 per gallon! Second, and thanks to Gale Banks and his aftermarket Diesel engine products, our trucks (Dodge 3500 and Ford F350) get BETTER mileage than many gasoline vehicles....For again less than a buck!
So when people are ready to buy and produce BIO DIESEL, then demand better products on our Diesel engines, we all can get OVER 20MPG in a heavy duty Dodge 3500 4 door, 4WD pick up truck. When i'm light towing, a 35' boat does not render me under 19MPG either.
Would you buy a hybrid or alternative-fuel car
by BroJohn - 5/3/07 5:59 AM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My answer to this is: maybe someday. I own a Ford Focus, 30 miles to the gallon avg mileage. It would not pay to switch at this time, since I just bought the vehicle last year. I do see a hybrid or perhaps hydrogen car in the future, but the price has to come down and the efficiency needs to increase. Where I live there is also very little in the way of dispensing facility for anything other than gasoline, or at best Natural Gas. There is a long way to go with these things, but it will happen.
The original Alternative Fuel Vehicles
by Bren2K - 5/3/07 6:02 AM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Most people aren't focused on the first flex fuel vehicles, but diesels are the first flex fuel vehicles and they can use biodiesel with little to no modifications.
So my 2003 Ford Excursion with the 6.0 liter PowerStroke Turbo Diesel would be my alternative fuel vehicle. Boasting 19.4 MPG on the highway, that is amazing for any large truck, especially one that weighs 8000 pounds. I'll keep filling it with biodiesel whenever I can find it.
Plugged-in hybrids are already possible! If i had the $$$...
by thoughtstorms - 5/3/07 6:14 AM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
It makes me furious that the only people plugging in their hybrids (and getting insanely great mileage and an even better ecofootprint) are the MIT grads that know how to "HACK" them. Don't car companies hire MIT grads? I know Big Oil Desert Stormed the Whitehouse in January of 2001... but isn't this a do-able thing? I first read about hacked hybrids (maybe they should be called "hackbrids") back in early 2004.
Sadly - i just bought a used car. The $7K i had to spend was not going to get me so much as a _test_drive_ in a hybrid. I did get the best mileage i could, but i've been hoping "my next car will be a much more eco-friendly one" for at least 5 cars now!
American Hybrid
by pdebruyn86 - 5/3/07 6:28 AM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
We bought a 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid and we love it. I don't understand why Ford doesn't advertise this vehicle more. BTW, the Ford hybrid system is licensed from Toyota, so mechanically, it's the same as the Prius. It is an excellent SUV and it's American!
Water powered car!!!!!!
by eggroll246 - 5/3/07 6:41 AM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I strongly am leaning toward the
water-powered/water, gas hybrid. It's truly
amazing!!!! Here are a few links w/ information on
this technology. http://hytechapps.com/
http://www.fi.edu/inquirer/hydrocar.html
http://www.czabe.com/mediaclips/index.shtml?a=showclip&id=519
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=536989
hope you enjoy the research, the 3rd one down is a
news report on the technology. This is where it
needs to head! Not more money in the pockets of
big-oil!
YES!!!!
by Bob259 - 5/3/07 6:48 AM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
We own two hybrids. My wife has a Toyota Prius and I have the Highlander, both are Hybrids.
Would we do it again.... ABSOLUTELY
Camry Hybrid looks good, but ...
by porthome - 5/3/07 7:10 AM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have a standard Camry now, and it's a great car, so I know the quality will be good in their hybrid too. Where I am, I have to do mostly highway driving, so I know the savings will be less. Still when I am in the Big Smoke, hybrid will make a big difference.
Cost is also a factor, but the Canadian Gov't is providing a rebate which closes the gap to standard gas car a lot.
Around here, owning and SUV is becoming as socially irresponsible as smoking, but rural people really do need some kind of small SUV for winter driving and muddy roads, and I see there may be some hybrids coming.
Don't get me started on ethanol. Just the latest pork from the pork barrel for US farmers.
Perry B
Hybrid and alcohol derivative are not good
by bakeogan - 5/3/07 7:24 AM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Why not? Simple! There are not fuel effiencet as suppose and there is not a serious study that actualy demonstrate that help the environment. This is just an opinion. Thank you for asking.
Hybrid
by chrosnip - 5/3/07 7:30 AM In reply to: Poll: Would you consider buying a hybrid or alternative-fuel car? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I really want a hybrid, but can't afford one. I'll be happy when they come down in price. I would be equally pleased with an alternative fuel car, if the alternative fuels were widely available. I drive cross country occasionally.
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