[V8] Diesels, Hydrogen, Hybrids, Continued! .....

[Etdmail at cs.com]

Scott, 

Thanks for the updates ...

It is good you have an in depth understanding of some of the 
technologies developed, to help keep our country and world 
habitable, not enough do.  But, I also, somehow feel it is a 
good thing, you do not drive any policy, or public / private 
investment. 


As with any forward looking environmental technology 
developments the true test of efficacy, will be the TCE 
(true cost to the environment).  Whether, it be personal 
transportation, fleets, transportation-systems, commercial 
realty developments, or city building. Which, is more the 
end of the spectrum, I am concerned with.


It is good for example that interest in ethanol as a solution 
is waning.  It takes 1000 tons of water to produce 1 ton of 
grain.  And from that 6 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon 
of ethanol, alone!  Or another view 1 tank-full of ethanol is 
enough to feed one person, for a year, at current world 
human consumption levels. 


At least some people, are negating their own personal 
transportation TCO and making the jump to Hybrid/Electrics
which hopefully, will help drive future product developments 
into the market as well as be more environmentally friendly 
in the present.


To proclaim, hydrogen dead by some sort of decree, is 
very short-sighted, as is promoting complicated, technology 
systems sitting along side of any internal combustion engine. 
Is an extremely narrow-minded in my view. As is, promulgating 
Ford/GM, as some sort of philosophical compass or beacon.


What is really needed in the interim, we can actually do...


It's called conservation.


Best,
~Ed
(Cambridge)



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In a message dated 8/12/2011 9:18:10 AM EDT,
 qshipq at aol.com writes: 
> 
> 
> Ed,
> Spoke with a couple of GM drivetrain engineers in my family about the 
> 'future' as their corporate worlds see it.  GM is looking at electric hybrids 
> as the 'future' along the lines of prius gas/electric.  Ultimately, it will 
> be the Ford/GM philosophy that drives our future.  Right now, both are 
> enjoying good sales, despite current gasoline prices, and future demand 
> outlooks.  The biggest issues right now are price differential factors, not 
> 'necessarily' any specific technology.  Again, without a clear energy policy 
> coming from Washington, we are loping along with a lot of concept cars, but not 
> practical production executions of them.  Most concerning with any/all the 
> 'future' projects, as well as current offerings (ethanol), is the complete 
> carbon footprint of any tech.
> 
> As far as I know, my contact at Ford Vehicle Engineering indicated that 
> Hydrogen vehicle project are all but dead.  The infrastructure costs and 
> other factors I noted in my earlier post, have put this on the way-back burner. 
>  Realistically, it's not an efficient energy source to produce.  It takes 
> a really high consumption of electricity (thinking the green wind generator 
> theory), or a really high consumption of fossil fuels to produce.  That's 
> without the infrastructure requirements that would be needed.  If it's not 
> efficient, as long as there is a fossil fuel supply (at a lower cost), it's 
> not a viable alternative.
> 
> Battery technology is the focus in many markets, and possibly holds the 
> future if a major breakthrough hits.  The best part of this alternative, is 
> the myriad of markets that benefit from the breakthroughs (beyond just 
> transportation).  That said, I'm not sure we are that close to a production 
> based transportation yet.  
> 
> To highly efficient gasoline combustion, I presume you to speak to 
> Transonic Combustion technology.  It holds good promise IMO, but is still a ways 
> from being a realistic alternative.  
> 
> What we really need is taking current tech and optimizing it.  A highly 
> efficient turbo diesel regenerative hybrid with sophisticated 
> drivetrain/driveline programming has the best chance of covering the full range of the 
> transportation spectrum (Smart cars>Diesel 18 wheelers).  I don't envision a 
> total electric transportation world even 15 years out, the best we can hope 
> for is a hybrid electric system optimizing fossil fuel efficiency 
> optimizing combustion efficiency and control system programming
> 
> More .02 on the topic
> 
> Scott J
> 92 V8 ABT Chipped
> 
> 

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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Etdmail at cs.com
> To: v8 at audifans.com
> Sent: Thu, Aug 11, 2011 8:58 pm
> Subject: Re: [V8] Diesels, Hydrogen, Hybrids, Continued! .....
> 
> 
> 
> Hi All ..
> 
> There is some promising news on all alternative fuel fronts.
> 
> 
> < snip >
> 
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