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This discussion relates to Technology Review's article Ultra-Efficient Gas Engine Passes Test.

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  enantiomer2000
  

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  03/08/2010 12:45 AM

  Woot!

  Sounds promising.  Combined with a form of fusion, it will give us all the energy we ever need..

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  • 
    erbium
    

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    05/18/2010 09:48 AM

    Re: Fusion

    Fusion is a pipedream in your lifetime.
    
    we'll be lucky if we have commercial fusion by 2070 at the earliest.  And it will never be too cheap to meter.
    
    Fusion is perenially 'just a few hundred billion short of a sixpack', and will be for next 60 years.
    
    So we are ALREADY RUNNING THE METER for fusion energy due to research grants.  The cost currently is INFINITE as we are GETTING NO ENERGY OUT!  and we are in the hole for hundreds of billions globally between all the research effort.  -  a good start for 'too cheap to meter' </end sarcasm>

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  gabrielg01
  

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  03/08/2010 01:14 AM

  Does not compete with hybrids.

  The article gives the impression that this gasoline engine competes with hybrid technology. Why?...
  
  Nothing stops you from combining an efficient gasoline engine with hybrid technology. Put this engine into a Prius, or other hybrid.

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  • 
    pallavsingh
    

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    03/08/2010 01:23 AM

    Re: Does not compete with hybrids.

    because the comparisons are always based on industry best... and even that makes it look very promising..

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    • 
      shomas
      

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      06/06/2010 12:58 PM

      Re: Does not compete with hybrids.

      "The article gives the impression that this gasoline engine competes with hybrid technology. Why?...
      
      Nothing stops you from combining an efficient gasoline engine with hybrid technology. Put this engine into a Prius, or other hybrid."
      
      True you can combine this advanced fuel injector with hybrid technology, the only limit will be the price tag.
      
      To understand some of the economics, consider that hybrid technology tends to cost more up front and is offset with savings over time with an increase in fuel economy. If you drive 15k miles with an engine getting 10mpg, hybrid technology increasing fuel economy 15% would save 196 gallons, compared to driving the same with an engines getting 20mpg, and hybrid technology increasing fuel economy 15% would save only 98 gallons.
      
      Assuming the same cost of hybrid technology, saving only 98 gallons has a lower return on investment (initial increased cost) then if you were saving 196 gallons. In other words, the higher the initial mpg before you add hybrid technology, the harder it will be to do it economically.

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    khublai
    

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    03/08/2010 10:25 AM

    Re: Does not compete with hybrids.

    A) - most hybrids rely on heavy battery packs that last only 5-7 years. This is dead weight because as the charge drops the weight doesn't, unlike gas tanks [although Dr. Cui's new nanowire battery tech might help this soon]
    
    B) - People right now are still shying away from hybrids because of higher cost, but also because of lower performance versus cost versus MPG [those with high mpg have crap performance, those with decent performance have a higher cost without significant increases in mileage]
    
    C) - It will be way easier to get this technology sold to the public, because it won't actually sound or look odd or unfamiliar. It is just a twist on a fuel injector, which they are used to.
    
    D) - Plug-in hybrids add an extra step that many people just don't want to bother with [we are curiously lazy creatures]
    
    E) - People usually prefer to hear 'rumble,' not 'whine'
    
    F) - Any moving of technology into a new sector is driven by desire and convenience, not logic. If they aren't made hungry for it it will go like the EV1. [also not the purchasing of largely useless huge hybrid SUVs; the savings are little, but their status remains and the inconvenience is negligible---as are the environmental gains.]
    
    G) - This tech will be matched with regenerative braking, alternator/generators (which drive when needed or charge when needed), stop light auto off functions, compact turbos, and possibly solar cells. But you have to prove concept before you get kissy and prove market before you add stuff. Too many layers of unfamiliarity and see the EV1 again.
    
    Having drawn a similar concept injector during the gas crunch after 9/11, I now wish I'd gone engineering instead of theatre. Though I love theatre, it pays much less.

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      MaxBailey
      

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      03/08/2010 10:57 AM

      Re: Does not compete with hybrids.

        "E) - People usually prefer to hear 'rumble,' not 'whine'"
      
      I agree with everything you said except the "whine" part.  I don't know anyone who doesn't like the whine of 'timing gears', 'super chargers' and or 'turbo chargers'.  We must accurate.  Rumble and whine together, good.  Whine without rumble, bad.

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      • 
        mvwoon
        

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        03/14/2010 06:14 PM

        Re: Does not compete with hybrids.

        The whine is from the power electronics.  Very annoying, unless you imagine you're in The Jetsons.

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    • 
      LovesTechnology
      

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      03/08/2010 02:09 PM

      Re: Does not compete with hybrids.

      This appears to be a possible break through engine technology.  This component efficiency (engine) will naturally be added to other design efficiencies such as the hybrids.  No reason not to expect stand alone engine or hybrid designs. 
      
      FYI- Here are the facts on my own Prius driving with a new 2010 car:  50-51 mpg around town; 46-48 running 75-80 mph on the interstates.  There are no performance loses over other 4-cylinder cars which I also own. 

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    • 
      itchyeyes
      

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      03/08/2010 03:13 PM

      Re: Does not compete with hybrids.

      I think you misinterpreted the GP's post.  His question was not, "why would people prefer a more efficient IC engine to a Hybrid."  His question was, "why would we prefer one over the other at all?"
      
      The two technologies are not mutually exclusive.  Hybrids most of their efficiency from recapturing energy while breaking, and turning off motors when stopped, instead of idling.  Such technologies could conceivably still be used with the technology in this article to increase fuel efficiency even further.

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  • 
    mdlyons
    

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    03/13/2010 07:15 PM

    Re: Does not compete with hybrids.

    With a Gasoline engine this efficient, why even worry about Hybrid technology? Hybrid's require batteries, and these batteries are often not very green. The hybrid is nothing more than a stop-gap technology, designed to get a little extra efficiency out of our gas powered vehicles until a better source of energy is found. This technology seems to do a better job of increasing efficiency than all the fancy gadgetry of a Hybrid.

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