No Kossack needs to be told about our need to cut our gasoline consumption. Over the years we've all become very aware of the problems we are facing and the importance of finding solutions. MSN autos currently has an article profiling several potential solutions, mostly in the form of new types of hybrid technology. I found them very interesting, so I figured I'd pass along the news.
Two Mode Hybrids
I'll admit I'm not sure what the huge difference between this and current hybrids is. The article explains it:
This co-developed, full-hybrid system is referred to as a two-mode hybrid because of its low- and high-speed electric variable transmission (EVT) modes. It also incorporates four fixed-gear ratios for high efficiency and power-handling capabilities.
The article claims that alongside cylinder cutoff technology, a full sized SUV with this technology would get 26 highway miles per gallon (25% increase). The same technology in a smaller vehicle would surely produce gains as well. It seems fairly simple, so if it is a a real improvement over current hybrid systems I wouldn't be surprised to see this become more common.
Hydraulic Hybrids
I first heard about hydraulic hybrid technology about a year ago, in an article about a man who had built his own hybrid vehicle. At the time there was no indication that the technology might be introduced by car manufacturers. But Ford Motor Co. and Eaton Corp. have developed a hybrid hydraulic system for us in large trucks. The system works similarly to conventional hybrids, utilizing regenerative braking.
The system is designed to improve fuel economy in large trucks during city driving by an estimated 25 to 35%. The HLA system featured on the Ford's new F350 Tonka concept truck recovers energy normally lost during deceleration and converts it to hydraulic pressure in an accumulator, where it is available as a source of energy during the vehicle's next acceleration.
Eighty percent of the initial kinetic energy is returned to the vehicle. "The system stores approximately 380 kJ of energy," says Brad Bohlmann, a mechanical engineer and business development coordinator in Advanced Technology at Eaton's Fluid Power Group. "With that much energy, we can accelerate a 10,000-lb vehicle from a dead stop to between 25 and 30 miles per hour with no assistance from the vehicle's combustion engine."
In every city we see countless garbage trucks, delivery trucks, snow removal trucks, and other large vehicles. A system which improves their efficiency by over a quarter would save enormous amounts of fuel. I look forward to more developments along these lines.
Plug In Hybrids
These have been a common topic of discussion here at dKos. A Plug in Hybrid vehicle has a battery that can be charged by plugging into the electric grid. This allows the vehicle to operate solely on its electric motor for a short while, up to 40 miles according to MSN. This would allow most commutes without a single drop of gasoline, but with the range of a gasoline engine. GM, Toyota, and Dodge have all expressed interest in producing Plug in Hybrids.
Perhaps most exciting is the Chevy Volt, another step closer to vehicle powered by nothing but electricity.
The Volt runs on electricity from the fully charged batteries for 40 miles to 50 miles and then, a small 1.0-liter turbo four-cylinder kicks in. But the kicker is, the gasoline engine has no direct contact with the wheels, it serves only to recharge the batteries.
Chevy says the Volt should be able to go more than 600 miles on its 12 gallon tank of gasoline.
Vehicle to Grid Technology
Vehicle to Grid (or V2G) is an add-on to Plug in Hybrid technology. A car powered at night when demand is lower and electricity is cheaper could sell stored energy back into the grid to help handle the increased mid-day demand. Because this would necessitate a large number of plug in hybrids on the road, it would be a long time coming, if we see it at all.
Air-Powered Hybrids
Mostly seen in other countries (notably France, India, and South Korea), cars powered by compressed air offer a completely new approach to getting around. One version mates the compressed air drive system with a small gasoline engine, another with a battery powered electric motor and compressor. According to Scientists from the University of California and Ford Motor Company, "an air hybrid engine could improve fuel economy 64 percent in city driving and 12 percent in highway driving."
Steam Engine Technology
Perhaps one solution to our transportation problems will be a technology whose roots go back centuries. BMW is developing a system known as Turbosteamer, which uses waste heat from a vehicle's exhaust to power a small steam engine. BMW saw a 15% increase in fuel mileage with this system.
The German automaker is working on simplifying and reducing the size of the system. The company says it intends to make the Turbosteamer ready for volume production in a number of its vehicles within a decade.
Final Thoughts
Many Kossacks think that the only answer is to abandon the idea of personal transportation. Things like public transportation, walking, and biking must be encouraged, and are almost always the most environmentally friendly and energy efficient ways to get around. But we don't need give up on the car. The ability of people to move cheaply, easily, and quickly to any destination they desire has helped facilitate the high standard of living that we enjoy today and, like it or not, the car is a symbol of American culture. The technologies to greatly reduce our oil usage - some of the ones in this diary included - are right around the corner, and will provide us with the time we need to minimize or even eliminate petroleum as a source of energy for transportation. We should continue to be concerned, but there is no reason to panic. We will get through this.