AutoblogGreen

You just had to spread it out on ten pages didn't ya.

Thank goodness for ad blocking software

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for real, the multi-page posts are getting annoying. are we almost done with them jeremy?

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Multi-page posts are a fact of life for a web site that depends on advertising. It's incredibly annoying, but less so than having to pay for content.

As for the technologies, note that flywheels are being considered not only for F1 race cars but also for buses, e.g. the Fraunhofer Autotram. Note that they use a gimbal mount to avoid excessive gyroscopic loads on the bearings and undesirable interactions with directional control. An even bigger issue is adequate containment in the event of an uncontrolled energy release, e.g. during a collision.

http://www.ivi.fraunhofer.de/frames/images/autotram/Autotram_RollOut.pdf

This brings up a fair question: is building a better car really the answer to God, the Universe and everything? Sure, it will address criteria emissions and fuel economy, but an electric motor powered by fancy Li-ion batteries is going to have exactly zero effect on traffic congestion.

To tackle that issue, you need mass transit, i.e. various types of trains and buses, preferably grid-connected or battery electric. Bicycles - optionally battery electric - would also greatly increase the capacity of existing roads and parking lots. Note that BEV technology would also be much more affordable in those vehicles than in personal motor cars.

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The number one should have been the development of plug-in capable vehicles. This still not available technology has the most potential to dramatically change the transportation environment.

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