Topic: Automotive manufacturers are trying to BS us again

[Jack Morris]

http://biz.yahoo.com/bizwk/050919/b3952051.html?.v=1

That technology has been around for AGES. Why would they want to tout that stuff instead of hybrid and fuel cell? My guess is MONEY, oil money...  Feed the masses BS and small gains, and keep those gas prices up and all that increased revenue for the Feds?

Thank God Toyota has publicly stated in a couple of years ALL their models will be hybrid, and they already have several prototypes of fuel cell vehicles, we just do not have the infrastructure to make them available to refuel across America right now. 

[Mr_Tricorder]

Have you ever heard of the Star Rotor engine?  During my freshman year (when I was still an Aerospace Engineering major) Dr. Holtzapple, one of my Engineering professors here at Texas A&M, told us about this project that he and several other people are working on.  It's supposed to be a super-efficient engine that utilizes about 90% of the energy generated.  Go to this website to check it out.  http://www.starrotor.com/index.htm

[Jack Morris]

Excellent find! It's amazing we have all this tech available and our wonderful govt. doesn't make it mandatory (They are raking it in on the current gasoline taxes and high fuel prices). It's weird that you posted about the rotary engine, Moller Industries has a good one one as well, and it irks the you know what out of me to see hundreds of jetskis using normal piston type engines on Lake Travis when they are notorious for polluting the environment.

Check out Moller's version

http://www.moller.com/

http://www.freedom-motors.com/

click on the pic of the jetski to the left of the page for the applications. 

[Capt_Bearslayer_XC]

My CRX had a 1500cc engine and only had 62 HP when I started with it.....

Anyways...

Excellent find! It's amazing we have all this tech available and our wonderful govt. doesn't make it mandatory

Ummm... it shouldn't be the government's job to make it mandatory when it comes to consumer choices.

The consumer should be forcing the decisions by use of their cash.

[Jack Morris]

I agree Bear, but look at how stupid most Americans are nowadays.  Those big SUVs and gas hogs? They NEVER conformed to the govt. standards of increasing mileage, and it did not hurt the manufacturers or govt. one bit as the fines on each vehicle were gladly paid for by the consumer when they paid for that new vehicle. The auto companies were more than thrilled at their ignorance, as not only did the consumer pay the fine unknowingly in the sticker price, the manufacturers were still making a killing off each unit sold!

But hey, consumers are not so happy when gas goes up above 3 bucks a gallon and oil is holding steady above the 60 mark, are they? They should quit their whining as it only cost me a little more than 7 dollars extra to fill up the Camry, that lasts a week easy. What do most people pay for their ciggies and booze and junk food and other unneccesary items? 

[Dracho]

LOL.. when I smoked and people razzed me about the cost.. my reply was.. "Dude.. I don't smoke for myself.. I'm smoking for YOUR protection.  Want to see me without cigarettes?"..

I'd have kicked their asses too..if it didn't make me breathe so darned hard..

[Jack Morris]

 

I know the feeling Dracho, hehehehehehehe...

[Dash Jones]

I for one know why I will choose a heavier car over some of the lighter vehicles which have lower gas mileage.  If you go under the car, look at the frame, and then look at what the car is made of itself, you will notice many of the trucks/SUVs and a few (nowdays VERY few) cars have heavy frames and a higher steel content in the skin (as opposed to pure fiberglass or other materials).

Why do I want to have a heavier vehicle rather than a lighter one?  Because if I ever do get in a wreck (though I hope it doesn't ever happen) I don't want the car crumpling like paper...I'll let the other guys crumple like paper whilst mine stays in relatively better shape.

But then I've been blessed to still be able to afford the gas prices as opposed to others.

[Dracho]

I'm thinking of buying some older Diesels, converting them, then re-selling them.



http://www.frybrid.com/parts.htm
 
http://www.dieselveg.com/
 
http://www.veggiepower.org.uk/qshowmuch.html

[Capt_Bearslayer_XC]

I for one know why I will choose a heavier car over some of the lighter vehicles which have lower gas mileage. If you go under the car, look at the frame, and then look at what the car is made of itself, you will notice many of the trucks/SUVs and a few (nowdays VERY few) cars have heavy frames and a higher steel content in the skin (as opposed to pure fiberglass or other materials).

Why do I want to have a heavier vehicle rather than a lighter one? Because if I ever do get in a wreck (though I hope it doesn't ever happen) I don't want the car crumpling like paper...I'll let the other guys crumple like paper whilst mine stays in relatively better shape.

But then I've been blessed to still be able to afford the gas prices as opposed to others.

Not too mention that a super light car in snow & icy conditions is NOT a good thing. 

[Jack Morris]

Most modern cars are of the "unibody" design nowadays, much safer and lighter, but a wreck usually totals them as they are not as rugged as our old pure metal ones that has many metal parts that could be replaced and the vehicle would be fine so long as the frame was not damaged.

[Dracho]

But the occupants are not injured nearly as often, because the unibody absorbs most of the energy.

Fair trade-off IMHO.  Better the car bend than me! 

[Jack Morris]

I agree Dracho. That's what insurance companies are for, to give me money for a new one!