Archive for the ‘Fuel Free’ Category
Science is enabling people to make giant technological strides in all fields, including those of automobiles. Although the dawn of mass produced flying cars is still far away, major interest combined with high funding has resulted in many potentially ground breaking technological changes in cars. Areas where research is primarily focused on includes finding new energy sources and materials; including biogas, hydrogen, nitrogen, electric and solar power as potential energy sources, building smart cars, making cars less accident prone, saving energy, having greater fuel efficiency and producing cleaner cars, which do not pollute the environment. Techniques such as regenerative braking, the ‘Turbosteamer’ used by BMW and the use of computational fluid dynamics help in a more efficient use of energy.
The idea of a car propelled by nuclear energy may seem farfetched but the Ford Nucleon was pioneered in 1957, which was the first nuclear automobile. However, no working prototypes were produced but nuclear energy can be looked at in the future as a potential fuel source. Currently, hydrogen is proving to be a much more viable fuel source as several prototypes have been produced. BMW produced the BMW Hydrogen 7 as a dual fuel vehicle with the ability to use either liquid hydrogen or gasoline. Read the rest of this entry »
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By Andrea Glass
Whether you buy a new or used vehicle, fuel efficiency–good gas mileage–is high on the list of most buyers’ concerns. The difference between choosing a fuel-efficient car or one that guzzles gas, will either save or cost you money over the life of the vehicle, which could be substantial. Fuel efficiency varies widely from one car to the next. Obviously you can check the EPA rating for city/highway MPG on the window sticker, although most of us know the average car never reaches those numbers.
You can also check consumer guides, car magazines and Web sites, Web site forums or ask friends, relatives and co-workers which vehicles they recommend as fuel-efficient cars. Don’t buy more car than you need, as larger vehicles generally have bigger engines that are less fuel-efficient. Find the most fuel-efficient car in the size group you’re interested in, whether a two-seater, compact, mid-sized, SUV or pickup truck. There are several online sites where you can compare fuel consumption ratings of any car.
Your choice of transmission can also affect the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Generally, a car with manual transmission is a more fuel-efficient car than one with automatic-assuming you shift properly. And a manual with overdrive, tachometer or shift indicator is the biggest fuel saver, saving up to 10% on fuel costs. If you do buy an automatic, which makes more sense for larger cars, the more gears the better. Read the rest of this entry »
By Brenda Williams
There is a going trend towards microchip based sensing mechanisms being embedded in consumer electronics to ensure a greater capacity of these products to react according to the environment. “Smart” technology has changed the world of electronics by giving them an ability to mimic the human ability of thinking. It does so by following a series of processes. The technology is also being used in cars to provide greater convenience to the customer. Cars already have advanced navigation systems and GPS but there is an integrated transportation system in the works, which could potentially electronically link all cars to direct drivers away from traffic jams and provide alternative routes. Present day navigation systems can also be updated with real time traffic updates to facilitate drivers.
There are many innovations that are already available in the market today whereas the others are still in the developmental phase. Let us now look at some of the possible features of future cars individually. Advanced flexible fuel systems will allow car users to use different fuels interchangeably, increasing mileage and convenience significantly. Hybrid cars use this technology but researchers are looking to combine all the technologies in one car. Active tires are being developed to handle different road conditions accordingly. Autopilot is a common feature in airplanes but soon it can become a part of everyday cars as well. The technology of GPS can be extended or roads can be magnetized to make this huge futuristic leap in the world of cars.
One major cause of concern is the high number of accidents that take place on the roads. A lane-changer warning system is being developed, prompting the driver to change lanes when it is safe to. Cars such as the 2007 Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 are offering technology like this but on a very limited scale. Collision mitigation systems are being developed as well to improve braking and to provide tightening of seatbelts where there is a possibility of an accident. Engines that will save gas and cause less pollution by controlling the amount of air drawn into the engine are being developed and the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has an engine like this. One major hassle for customers is the damage caused to the paint of the car due to scratches and marks; a self-cleaning paint is being developed to solve this problem. Nissan is already looking into a topcoat made from an elastic resin that can prevent some scratches. A popular feature being developed in smart cars is the ability to park itself. Toyota has developed cars with such technology in Japan for parallel parking whereas BMW has gone one step further and the driver can actually operate from outside the car as well. A cool feature in the works is called Electric Window Tinting, which will enable the windows to switch from clear to tinted or opaque just by the push of a button.
Certain features are already being integrated in cars but their use is not widespread. Keyless entry and ignition is one such feature, the use of it is expected to increase in the future. Adaptive Brake lights are also being used, specifically by Mercedes-Benz in limited models. Cars with an economy mode are also being manufactured where the car turns off non- essential features to conserve fuel. Don’t be surprised if these features form a part of everyday cars in the future.
About the Author: Auto Transport Quote
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By Brenda Williams
Most of the cars in the world are run by internal combustion engines using gasoline or diesel fuels for propulsion. However, there is massive concern regarding the air pollution caused by the usage of such vehicles hence alternative fuel technologies are being looked into. Other factors that might lead to its decline are the increasing prices of oil-based products and stricter environmental laws. Global warming is finally being recognized as a global issue hence the emission of the greenhouse gases by these automobiles has to be looked into. Other than gasoline and diesel, petroleum products such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) are also used in some internal combustion engines.
Diesel was first used as a fuel in automobiles in the 1930s, introduced by Mercedes Benz and Citroen. Diesel has much higher fuel burn efficiency as compared to petrol. However, they require better filters to handle exhaust gases of fine soot particles which are called diesel particulate matter. Cars that run on gasoline are generally lighter and can work at higher rotational speeds. Sports cars are normally fitted with gasoline engines due to this reason. A catalytic converter may be used to clean up exhaust gases released. Biofuels are also used in some automobiles to increase octane, improve emissions or simply as an alternative to petroleum fuels. Ethanol is used popularly as fuel in Brazil; it caters to almost 20% of the automotive fuel need of the nation.
Electric cars and stream driven engines were produced way before gas powered engines. Steam powered engines could not run until the boiler pressure was available; additionally they tended to be very heavy so they never achieved mass popularity as a road vehicle. Initially, the electric cars had an advantage as they were silent as compared to the loud gas powered engines, a problem which was later rectified. However, there are many reasons which led to their downfall. The batteries of these cards needed to be recharged regularly so they were not fit to travel on for a long range. The extra weight these batteries occupied was another disadvantage. Henry Ford struck the greatest blow in their popularity by mass producing gas powered engines at affordable rates. In the 1950s there was some interest in gas turbine engines but no cars reached production due to high fuel consumption, delay in throttle response and a lack of engine braking. Cars which use compressed air like the Tata/MDI OneCAT Air Car are being developed as an alternative. There are several prototypes available. These cars either use solely air or air combined with diesel/ethanol/gasoline.
Rocket and jet cars are another alternative to the normal road automobiles. These cars are propelled by propulsive jets which are emitted from rocket, turbojet or turbofan engines. In 1997, the ThrustSSC used two turbofans with reheat and was able to go beyond the speed of sound at ground level. It is safe to say, however, these cars will probably never go into mass production for the general audience. The major asset of rocket and jet cars is their ability to reach great speeds.
About the Author: Auto Transport Company
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By Mike Trudel, Freelance Writer
There’s been a lot in the press lately about lithium-ion batteries. Conference panelists, energy researchers, car manufacturers and, of course, environmentalists are discussing the possibility of running vehicles entirely on battery power.
Most of us are more familiar with lithium-ion batteries in consumer electronics – laptops, MP3 players, cell phones, digital cameras, rechargeable battery kits…But, uh, what exactly are they again? Straight lithium batteries are little packets of extractable power which use lithium in its pure metallic form. Straight lithium batteries are considered a “primary battery,” or a battery that cannot be recharged. Secondary batteries or cells can be recharged.
Lithium-ion batteries, on the other hand, are a fairly new development in which more stable lithium compounds are used. One of the primary advantages of lithium-ions, or Li-ions, is that they can be recharged hundreds, sometimes even thousands of times. Two or more secondary cells are restored to full charge through electrical energy in this process.
But perhaps we should backtrack. Why are some batteries rechargeable and others not? It’s actually fairly simple. Rechargeable batteries can recoup their precious energy because they contain electrochemical cells in which the electrochemical reaction that releases energy is reversible. These cells are a type of accumulator. In the case of Li-ions, the ions move between two parts – the anode and the cathode. Anode to cathode movement charges; cathode to anode movement recharges. Other types of secondary cells include lead and sulfuric acid combos, nickel cadmium (NiCD), lithium-ion polymer and nickel metal hydride (NiMH), the last of which is used in most hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) batteries.
The advantages of lithium-ions over non-rechargeable and other rechargeable batteries are numerous. For one, Li-ions have a higher energy density than their counterparts, meaning they store much more energy for their size and weight than other rechargeables. More energy means fewer cells are needed to accomplish the same task. More cells in the same space as, for instance, NiMHs means more energy. They also operate at higher voltages – three times that of NiMH batteries – and have a lower self-discharge rate, so they lose energy slowly while not in use.
The implications for the auto industry are profound. What if cars really could run without gasoline? Could this go so far as to affect the world economy? How powerful are these things, really?
A prominent energy researcher for a government agency believes Li-ion batteries will soon replace NiMH models in HEVs. Major auto manufacturers are already planning to release full plug-ins (cars that run on electrical energy often stored in Li-ion batteries) by 2010.
While these little powerhouses can come at a premium of up to $10,000 by some estimations, many experts believe that number will dramatically decrease as the law of supply and demand takes effect.
Lest the battery world becomes unrealistically rosy however, Li-ions do have disadvantages. One, they’re dramatically more expensive. Two, Li-ions require more sophisticated chargers – again, creating the problem of increased cost and low supply. Three, Li-ions are sensitive to the environmental conditions. Temperatures that are too hot or too cold can reduce their functionality and life. Four, Li-ion batteries slowly but predictably degrade over time reducing their capacity.
Certain manufacturers for the auto industry are foreseeing the coming of this technology and beginning to produce hybrid vehicle battery pack systems designed for single or multi-element battery cells that can be globally integrated with any lithium-ion or NiMH battery. The best of them have reusable building block technologies, can accommodate a range of voltages, have systems that maintain the health of the battery cells and are applicable to mild hybrids, full hybrids, or electric vehicles. These “packs” are an important part of what could make quicker mass integration into the hybrid market possible.
Times they are a changin’. Who wouldn’t want a fuel-free car? Regardless of certain disadvantages, Li-ion innovations – and accommodations to suit them – are coming. They’re just too promising.
About the Author: Mike Trudel, Freelance Writer.
Delphi is committed to contributing state-of-the-art technologies and innovations in order to help make our roadways greener. For more information, visit www.Delphi.com/4green.
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