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Featured Threads Archive
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Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition
Source: Nautilus Engineering | The Nautilus Cycle (HCI/HCCI)
Our unique patent pending design solves the inherent challenges of pre-ignition, poor cold starting, unbalanced combustion, uneven temperatures, limited RPMs and loads with Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition or Homogeneous Compression Ignition (HCCI/HCI).
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The technical trick is a smaller cylinder/piston in the middle of main piston. In operation, it is able to double the compression in the center cylinder to auto-ignite, miniature detonation. Then the flame front ignites the main charge without detonation. Some of us may remember Honda's stratified charge engine that had a central, enhanced ignition source into a lean mixture main charge. This is a similar approach without the central fuel injection and spark ignition.
The Carnot equation pretty well defines... -
EU centric, lifetime cost paper
Published online 16 January 2013, it predates learning of the diesel-cheat. However, there are some familiar patterns: Comparative Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Conventional and Electric Vehicles - Hawkins - 2012 - Journal of Industrial Ecology - Wiley Online Library
. . .
We find that EVs powered by the present European electricity mix offer a 10% to 24% decrease in global warming potential (GWP) relative to conventional diesel or gasoline vehicles assuming lifetimes of 150,000 km.
. . .
Because production impacts are more significant for EVs than conventional vehicles, assuming a vehicle lifetime of 200,000 km exaggerates the GWP benefits of EVs to 27% to 29% relative to gasoline vehicles or 17% to 20% relative to diesel.
. . .
An assumption of 100,000 km decreases the benefit of EVs to 9% to 14% with respect to gasoline vehicles and results in impacts indistinguishable... -
A futuristic solution to Highway congestion
t does not take much observation to realize that a overcrowded highways have less capacity to move people because the cars slow down so much. If the highways could be packed and still move at the speed limit they would have vastly increased capacity to move people. Not to mention making a lot of people happy!
The solution is auto-piloted cars. With autopilot, cars can be set to drive at the speed limit (and a little above to close gaps) and at minimum safe distance. The entering and exiting of the vehicles and lane assignment would also be handled automatically by simply requiring the destination. Car lane assignment would be controlled by computers. Once a highway is at capacity, cars, simply will not be allowed to enter but the capacity to move people would be much much larger than it currently is with the same lanes.
Yes there will be many technical and political problems to work out. These problems need to be worked out and this should happen within the next ten... -
Ford scrappage (EU-style cash for clunkers)
I typically don't follow the EU market but this one caught my eye because the effect sounds like our old 'cash for clunkers' program many years ago.
Source: British Car Owners Getting Cash to Scrap Old Vehicles | TheDetroitBureau.com
Ford Motor Co. said this week it will offer to pay drivers as much as $5,200 for cars and even more for older if they replace their older vehicles. The program is applicable to any pre-Euro 5 vehicle registered by Dec. 31, 2009.
The scheme will enable eligible consumers to benefit from a scrappage incentive of between £2,000 and £7,0001 on a variety of Ford models, including the new high-tech Fiesta and Transit Custom, Britain’s most popular car and van respectively, Ford noted in its announcement.
“Ford shares society’s concerns over air quality,” said Andy Barratt, chairman and managing director of Ford of Britain. “Removing... -
Non-USA Hybrid Minivans
Source: Three High-MPG Hybrid Minivans Americans Would Love But Can’t Get
In 2006, I wrote a letter to Toyota USA asking for an Estima. I'd even thought about transplanting a Gen-1 powertrain into a VW MicroBus. <gerrrrr>
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Bob Wilson -
California: EV charging indicated on freeway signs
A new bill, AB 1633, will add electric vehicle charging station icons to freeway service signs - in addition to the icons for gas, food, and lodging.
This is great news for California EV drivers!
Here's a bit more on the Frazier Bill - from East County Today -
Honda Civic Diesel
Source: The European Honda Civic Gets an Awesome New Diesel Engine - Motor Trend
Honda announced today that Civics in Europe will now be available with an updated diesel engine. And it won’t be some teeny-tiny one that only makes a couple dozen horsepower. The new engine is a 1.6-liter turbodiesel that makes 118 hp and a healthy 221 lb-ft of torque. Still, it’s not quick. Hitting 62 mph takes a leisurely 10.4 seconds.
But while the diesel Civic definitely won’t beat the Type R in a drag race, Honda does say it’s good for 76 mpg based on European testing standards. That’s quite impressive on its own, but Honda also promises those results will be easier to achieve in the real world thanks to a series of engine and exhaust system upgrades.
Sadly, there’s no indication that Honda has any intention of offering its new diesel engine in U.S. Civics. It could always change... -
Chevrolet Equinox Diesel
Source: Chevrolet's 2018 Equinox Diesel boasts segment-topping fuel economy
Chevrolet has revealed its 2018 Equinox will be offered with three engine options, including a new 1.6-liter diesel. That diesel option will have a cruising range of up to 577 mi (928 km) per tank and be EPA rated at up to 39 mpg (6 L/100km) on the highway, which GM boasts will top the compact SUV segment – even when compared to gasoline-electric hybrids such as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (30 mpg) or the Nissan Rogue Hybrid (35 mpg)..
As a general rule, when only highway mileage is mentioned, someone is trying to hide a truth: Compare Side-by-Side
model City Highway ... -
Another EV company?
Source: Dyson’s Aston Martin Hire Fuels Speculation on Electric-Car Push - Bloomberg
Home appliances maker Dyson Ltd. has recruited its second Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd. executive in a year, making it the latest hire to fuel speculation that the company is building an electric vehicle.
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“We have historically recruited from a wide range of backgrounds, as we are a broad church and are developing a multitude of technologies,” the company said in a statement. “We plan to recruit an extra 3,000 engineers and scientists by 2020 and are working with more than 40 universities globally.”
The move comes after a government document referenced funding for Dyson to develop “a new battery electric vehicle at their headquarters in... -
Where to put EVSE/chargers
Source: Gas stations aren't a model for electric-car charging: ChargePoint CEO
Most of his insight stems from the fact electric-car charging stations can be built into more convenient places, rather than dedicated stand-alone structures.
An EV charging station can attract repeat customers, those hugely wealthy and not so bright EV owners. We'll then buy whatever is near the charger ... like Whole Foods stuff.
Bob Wilson -
Mazda on meeting emissions
Source: http://www.autonews.com/article/20170801/OEM02/170809957/&template=print
Davis, senior vice president in charge of special assignments for North America, remains critical of the way the industry has introduced EVs for emission compliance purposes.
“Take the $7,500 EV credit off the table? At the same time, you take the EV mandate off the table,” Davis said dismissively. “Let the government keep the $7,500 and let the industry find the best way to meet the clean air standard. Make it CO2, make it grams per mile, fuel economy — whatever feels best.
“But don’t mandate the particular powertrain.”
Mazda has been on the sidelines as competitors brought electric models to market. But Mazda is a relatively small global automaker, without the resources to develop a wide range of powertrains.
Mazda has made fuel efficiency a priority with its Skyactiv technologies. But it is focusing... -
Federal Register for 2022-2025 CAFE
Source: Federal Register :: Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Model Year 2022-2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), NHTSA intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze the potential environmental impacts of new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for model year (MY) 2022-2025 passenger automobiles (referred to herein as “passenger cars”) and non-passenger automobiles (referred to herein as “light trucks”) that NHTSA will be proposing pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), as amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). This notice initiates the process for determining the scope of... -
GS Yuasa's new battery to double electric car range
GS Yuasa's new battery to double electric car range- Nikkei Asian Review
"Japan's GS Yuasa will begin mass producing as early as 2020 lithium-ion batteries that double the driving range of small electric vehicles.
Lithium Energy Japan, a joint venture with trading house Mitsubishi Corp. and carmaker Mitsubishi Motors, will develop the cells, which will be produced at its plant in Shiga Prefecture and supplied to automakers in Japan and Europe."
No mention of cost for these new batteries, but Nissan controls Mitisubishi, and they are selling off their in house battery production.
Nissan Gives Up Its In-House Battery Production Capability... Sort Of |...
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