Car Tech: What's your favorite alternative fuel?
- 4/24/07 5:45 PM
A race!
by sdcreacy - 5/12/07 3:22 PM In reply to: Electrons. by R. Proffitt
I have a great idea to promote the battery improvement, performance and just the idea of electric cars: a no-holds barred 500 lap race with a large reward for the top three.
Electric cars can go just as fast as gas, but the batteries need work. However, lithium polymer and eventually, nano-capacitors will improve to the point of being affordable and effective.
Amen on that
by punterjoe - 5/29/07 1:21 PM In reply to: Electrons. by R. Proffitt
Everything's a trade off, and no single solution is ideal for everyone. That being said, it seems to me that electric offers a substantial upside over much of the competition. Even the "hydrogen solution" is a bit misleading, since fuel cells are just another way of generating ...what? ....riiight. Electric motors seem a more promising platform for future transport than all the 19th century gears, belts, differentials, hydraulics and other arcane mechanical systems we continue to rely on.
It's time to completely rethink & redefine the automobile.
Alternative fuels
by bear740 - 5/9/08 7:39 PM In reply to: Electrons. by R. Proffitt
No one would be even talking about alternative fuels if the wacko environmentalists have not had their way with the help of the liberals. We have had a 25 year moratorium on drilling for oil in this country and our production has been cut in half, yet we need twice as much, thusly was have to depend on foreign oil. Even though there is enough oil here in the United States to keep us from using any foreign oil for the next 60 years and if the shale oil project near the Rocky Mountains comes to pass, we would have enough oil for the next 100 years. Oil has been found in abundance in North and South Dakota, and the governors of both states are want to let the oil companies drill since this may be one of the largest oil finds on earth. No, we need to let the oil companies do what they do best, find and drill for oil and then let them build new refinery's to make gas, then maybe we can have 38 cent per gallon gas as they do in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and then we can talk alternative fuels for our homes and factories. But if you need to talk alternatives fuels for automobiles then there is a system of converting H20 to HHO which feeds the hydrogen gas as needed to a normal gasoline car, or as it would be called a Hybrid. Only one quart of this would last for over 4 months and would let a normal gasoline car get up to 90 miles per gallon. Eventually we can go completely to this HH0 fuel, but as a hybrid his has much more power, since there is nothing that can take the place of gasoline for power in the molecular level. How's that for a alternative fuel?
Biodiesel
by Zurge - 4/24/07 7:56 PM In reply to: What's your favorite alternative fuel? by wcunning
Biodiesel made from algae currently has the most promise as a gasoline replacement. The problem is that everyone seems so stuck on ethanol right now that no one is looking at biodiesel. Hydrogen, though attractive, does not offer the energy return that you get from algae biodiesel. When choosing an alternative fuel you can NOT forget the law of thermodynamics.
The Ethanol Threat
by Houckster - 4/30/07 1:16 AM In reply to: Biodiesel by ZurgeThe biggest problem with ethanol isn't its corrosiveness, its high surface tension, nor the different air-fuel ratio that it requires for efficent combustion, it's that many people see ethanol as a solution when it most it is a stepping stone to the proper biofuel for gas engines: butanol.
No other fuel could have a greater or more immediate impact on our dependence on foreign oil than cellulosic butanol because all current cars and trucks can use it.
hydrogen fuel cells
by newg - 4/25/07 10:15 PM In reply to: What's your favorite alternative fuel? by wcunning
They must get this up and running - it is pollution free!! (From what I have read about it.)
Favorite fuel...hmm.
by Oynot - 5/2/07 9:54 PM In reply to: hydrogen fuel cells by newgThat would be nuclear, 4 on North Korea, 3 on Iran, 1 tactical on Syria, 1 on east Pakistan just so they get the idea and maybe one on Egypt just for lying to us.
Pretty soon ...15cent gas.
FEEDING LEAD TO THE LIBS IS THE ANSWER
by VANEEW - 5/3/07 2:28 AM In reply to: Favorite fuel...hmm. by Oynothttp://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/eibessential/enviro_wackos/there_s_no_oil_shortage.guest.html
cheap gas ,, that's a blast .. I will drink to that
by davecn - 5/3/07 2:13 PM In reply to: Favorite fuel...hmm. by OynotCould this be considered offensive.. hmm ,, not by many me thinks..
Alternately, a Realistic Approach, must use EXISTING VEHICLES or it is a pipe dream.. so a conversion is in order..
in comes Ethanol.. Gee so many against it.. seems like [[pro'bition]],,,
First, it is easy and cheap to make, non toxic and volitility is not that bad...
Second, degradation of any motor parts is managable
Third , when proper tuning / engine management systems are in operation
there is no shortage of power and/or milage is good... just leave it in the hands of CHAMP cars for a couple of years for developement
Forth, most vehicles can make the transition for a reasonable $$$$
....
And sorry.. but Reasonable has to factor in... AntiMatter Generators etc, are not presently an option people...
My Favorite alternative fuel is Plant oil..
by danalinscott - 5/2/07 10:13 PM In reply to: hydrogen fuel cells by newgMy Favorite alternative fuel is Plant oil..or"Veg-oil" as those who use it caily often refer to it.
This is NOT biodiesel. It is plain "ol" fresh (SVO) or recycled (WVO) cooking oil. The technology to convert a diesel engines fuel system ot use it is relativly cheap and simple. But as with most alternative fuels there are some caveats. It IS the most carbon neutral fuel available currently and you do not have to be all that skilled ot convert a car to use it. Did I mention it costs about 12 cents a gallon?
More info on this alternative fuel fuel is availalble at:http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/mb/voconversionbasics
The best thing about using VO fuel is that it is actually so cheap to use (if you use recycled Waste Vegetable Oil) that it can pay for the cost of conversion and processing equipment in less than a few months if you have a job that makes you pu on a lot of miles..and less than a year if you put on an average amount of miles each year.
danalinscott@yahoo.com
What about Hydrogen Internal combustion engines???
by shawnleegabriel - 5/3/07 8:44 AM In reply to: hydrogen fuel cells by newgI get sick and tired about everytime the stupid democrats or republicans and anyone else talks about hydrogen as an alternative fuel, they relate to the the fuel cell...
This concept is just an electric car...
Every automobile (gasoline and diesel) today can be convert to burn hydrogen right now and several individuals have done it... and it is much safer than fossil based I.C.E. (Internal Combustion Engines)...
I prefer to drive a hydrogen ICE vehicle than
THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH HYDROGEN IS AND GET THIS IS WE DON'T HAVE AN INFRASTRUCTURE!!!! THIS IS WHAT WE NEED FIRST...
We need to stop talking about the alternative fuel vehicles and start creating the INFRASTRUCTURE FIRST!!!
Please help me in encouraging the spread of starting the hydrogen infrastructure...
Expensive H2 for inefficient IC engines?
by albizzia - 5/6/07 6:31 PM In reply to: What about Hydrogen Internal combustion engines??? by shawnleegabrielYes, H2 can fuel IC engines, in spite of hydrogen dissolving into steel and making it brittle...
Quantum Corp. replaced the gas tank on a Toyota Prius with a 10,000 psi compressed H2 tank. In spite of the highly efficient Atkinson-Miller cycle engine, hybrid components, and an added turbocharger, the H2 Prius goes only 80 miles per tank. (Before, it went 500 miles per tank of petrol). Not enough, you say?
Well, how about the BMW "Hydrogen 7", with a 30 gallon liquid H2 tank. Bigger tank, and liquid H2 is denser than compressed H2. It gets 120 miles per tank of H2. Of course, you'll want to use it up right away - if left sitting idle, the entire tank of liquid H2 will evaporate in less than 2 weeks.
The reason "fuel cells" are being pushed is they are about twice as efficient as IC engines, making it barely possible to get an acceptable range. Oh, and the fact that H2 fuel costs more than gasoline means you don't want to waste it in an inefficient engine.
For me, I'd prefer the more efficient and far less expensive electric or plug-in hybrid options. The "electric fuel" infrastructure is already in place!
Hydrogen is not an ALTERNATIVE fuel
by dukhalionite - 12/22/07 4:19 PM In reply to: Expensive H2 for inefficient IC engines? by albizziaHydrogen is just a temporary storage method for energy taken from other types of fuel. Energy is needed to make hydrogen out of water, and when the energy is used it is returned to water (and not to destroy the ozonelayer as someone here thought).
There is a new Hydrogen on Demand generator
by gr8leather - 6/25/07 7:25 AM In reply to: What about Hydrogen Internal combustion engines??? by shawnleegabrielThere is an inventors club in Galesburg, IL, at the CSC College, that has invented a "Hydrogen on Demand" generator, that is being installed on a pickup truck, NOW ! This removes the problem of "Infrastructure" as everyone seems worried about, and it also removes the "Explosive" concerns related to the "Bombs" under the seat!! I personally have seen the equipment, and the videos of it in operation. I can not say more, because I have signed a Confidentiality non-disclosure statement. This is no HOAX, and I hope you will find time to check out their Blog site:
http://cscinventorsclub.blogspot.com/
By the way, I do agree with you - why all the interest in fuel-cells? They are very expensive, easily poisioned(ruined), and the maintenance will be cost prohibitive. With something like the CSC club's invention, overall efficiency is not as important!
I found that there are numerous H2ICE(hydrogen internal combusion engine) prototype engines, right now. Ford has a V-10, and a 2.3L, already somewhat perfected to using hydrogen gas.
I'm excited about the possibilities of hydrogen "without the Federal Government telling everyone that we have to have an "Infrastructure", and that we need a few "Lake Michigan's" just to build up some huge bombs?? Let alone the bombs under our car seats.
Thanks for your interest in H2ICE's - It makes much more sense!
DAVe
Hydrogen without the infrastructure
by gr8leather - 6/25/07 7:54 AM In reply to: What about Hydrogen Internal combustion engines??? by shawnleegabrielIf the invention by the CSC college inventors club pans out, the need for infrastructure will not be necessary, at least for automobiles as we know them.
Also, the inefficiency of regular ICE's using hydrogen can be overcome. Ford has 2 H2ICE's - a V10, and a 2.3L Engine. Both have been adapted for the use with hydrogen. Check out these websites:
http://cscinventorsclub.blogspot.com
http://www.ford.com/en/innovation/technology/hydrogenTransport/hydrogenInternalCombustion.htm
http://media.ford.com/newsroom/release_display.cfm?release=26062ted??
These are well worth your while!
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