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Recent Comments:
Bill Gates files patent for electromagnetic generator, plasma injector {Autoblog Green}
Apr 16th 2009 9:55AM Roger, I think you're right about the replacement. I'd like to think if you pair another piston arrangement at the opposite end you could then couple sets of these together to more efficiently generate electricity and overcome mechanical losses and large rotating masses necessary to generate electricity. Today's software and computer controls could activate and deactivate cylinder pairs as needed to generate power. Heat losses from chemical conversion to mechanical energy wouldn't be any different than a modern engine, but the mechanical losses, number of components, and the size of the engine required to generate an equivalent power output as today's hybrid systems would be greatly reduced bringing down engineering and manufacturing costs. I have to assume Gates and company solved some of the more difficult challenges in making such a system operate. Additionaly, the linear generator could be reversed and act as a starter reducing the need for that component too.
Carbon fiber to be replaced by Buckypaper? {Autoblog}
Oct 22nd 2008 5:43PM There's already a company in NH that makes sheets of these materials and is working with the Army to make use of these materials for various ground systems. I met the owner of the company at this year's ASM AeroMat conference in Austin, TX. With regard to these material's electrical properties, I challenged the owner to investigate replacing copper in electric motors. At last check, copper isn't cheap and with all new EVs due to come out, it would be nice to have a material that can be "made", have improved electrical properties, and reduce the motor's weight.
Real photo of the real Volt powertrain mule {Autoblog}
Apr 17th 2008 4:48PM I think this is a good platform to use as transition technology to fuel cells...which I think is ultimately be the General's goal with this vehicle. Because of its series design, I can easily see replacing the ICE/generator unit and gas tank with a hydrogen storage system and a fuel cell. I don't see that flexibility for future design capacity in the current form Toyota's or Honda's hybrid products. I am sure regardless of pricing, GM will lose money on the product, but the knowledge gained from real world feedback, producing, servicing, and expanding the capability of this platform (let alone the positivie green image perception GM needs from this) will pay dividends when they transition to fuel cells.
Harvard professor predicts railroads will return to prominence in the U.S. {Autoblog Green}
Apr 11th 2008 11:41PM This is where I find a quantitative lack of regional and national leadership and vision. It will take an "Ike" to map out a plan that is revolutionary to put HSR in this country. Existing rail infrastructure is not the answer, but dedicated newly built lines is. Costly? Yes. Necessary? Yes. I could care less about the health care or Iraq Presidential debates. These are systems and operations ongoing and addressing these issues, to me, is just tweaking an already created entity; not inventing and implementing wholly new ideas outside the box of existing solutions to such things as CO2 reduction and national energy policy. Electric HSR can help solve and address these issues more effectively and efficiently than current or proposed energy policies by any candidate. We just need some genuine leadership to address it and put their words into actions. I wish all the best to CA. Lead the way; other will follow.
Detroit 2008: GM and Coskata announce worldwide cellulosic ethanol partnership {Autoblog Green}
Jan 13th 2008 4:38PM I find the syngas process the most interesting part of this. I think this will give GM greater future flexibility for production of hydrogen as that market, and the infrastruture to support it, nucleates and evolves.
GM exceeds Malibu sales expections in the first month by, oh, 2,500 cars {Autoblog}
Nov 25th 2007 11:19AM I sat in a new Malibu a few months back when GM came recruiting to our university. I own an 02 Accord and 04 Odyssey. Until then, I always thought GM was in the cellar regarding quality, layout, comfort...all the details necessary to build a great car. For the first time in my life, I felt that my Accord was the inferior car. I've seen the new Accord and am not impressed. I am also impressed with the Buick crossover. Congrats to GM on sweating the details. I just wish the Malibu had a manual.
Elastic steel makes your car safer by stretching it out {Autoblog}
Sep 21st 2007 11:02PM Fe-26Mn-3Si-3Al.... A steel mill can't/won't touch it although a process such as NUCOR's thin strip casting process may be able to make automotive sheet. Even with an as-cast microstructure, 60-70% elongation is easily attained. Generally, this alloy has to be cast as ingot and hot-rolled or forged. Georg Frommeyer is the PhD is Germany working on it and other related high Mn high Al alloys. He published this and a couple of other related articles a couple of years back. The TWIP's are especially nice as they respond well to high strain rate deformation at the crash relevant 10^2/s strain rate. At these conditions, they actually perform better the Ti-6Al-4V.
First Drive: 2008 Cadillac CTS {Autoblog}
Aug 21st 2007 1:06PM I'll hold comments till I drive one, but I have not considered a domestic as an option for my next car purchase until now. With the 3.6 option, I'd like to see a comparo against a Lexus IS 3.5 and a BMW 335i. I do like the interior (based on pics alone) better than BMW's, but want to know if it is on par with the best or at least close but at a slightl cost advantage.
GM announces new 4.5L V8 Duramax diesel for half-ton trucks and HUMMER H2 {Autoblog}
Jun 16th 2007 1:45PM I concur. I missed an opportunity years ago to replace the 2.3L gas burner in a Ford Courier with the Mazda diesel. I would kill to have 30(+) MPG city/hwy in a small truck. I don't need the capacity to tow a house, but I do have need for a REAL utility vehicle with respectable MPG. Until then, I'll sit on my 4-cylinder Accord that's paid for and make do.
Military wants a greener replacement for the humvee {Autoblog Green}
Oct 9th 2006 3:24PM The challenge the Army faces with replacing the current truck doesn't involve the simple act of replacing an older model with a new one that would otherwise give them no new capability or increased efficiency. The Army does look to foregin companies to compete. EADS own Stewart and Stevenson who manufacture the current medium series trucks the Army owns...but even foreign owned compaies have to build them in the States as required by Federal Law. However, fuel cost reduction and fuel economy are also related to tactical advantage. A hybrid would bring with it an element of stealth. Better fuel economy extends the range of the force. Other factors are that current civilian vehicle offerings are limited for military use (e.g. how much additional structure needs to be added to, say, a Dodge Cummins to accomodate a crew-served weapon system). And from a research standpoint, the military can definately shape the future of alternate fuels. For example, pure hydrogen fuel cell systems would probably not be favored in lieu of ammonia based systems that are less prone to explosion. I think properly done, such projects can both improve current military capability and provide a research stream applicable to daily civilian use.
