Here's something that few past my radar screens a few years back:Sinclair C5 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

&: Twike - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

The Twike and the Sinclair! There it is - the perfect match - pedaling, getting exercise, and putting a little of that power into the wheels! While not ideal (what vehicle ever is?), the concept is a fantastic one, and could well save millions of Americans from "burger-death"/ heart disease and atherosclerosis. Perhaps to upsize it a bit, give it more speed, better aerodynamics - it would be a good fit in the Aptera, Tesla, Volt, etc. - get exercise while making headway on the freeway!

I'm thinking of getting me a 50cc Scooter...:D

 

Real cheap to run,and only uses 2Lt/100km.

:cool:Cool Idea, Rick! 50cc's should be plenty of power for a scooter, and exceptionally efficient.

For myself, I'm considering a bicycle with a trailer, hoping low traffic density will allow me safe travels here. I might propose a bicycle trail system to the board; if they'll consider it is another matter.

Found this song by Sheryl Crow quite entertaining:Sheryl Crow’s Music Videos – Discover music, videos, concerts, & pictures at Last.fm

All the water everywhere, and not a drop to spare.

 

BumPer (check out Crow's song - it's quite good!)Sheryl Crow’s Music Videos – Discover music, videos, concerts, & pictures at Last.fm

Ah, my own personal spam thread! Thousands of servers, whirring and spinning all for this stuff!:laugh3: (what would Ian say?)

Since cars only last 12 & 1/2 years, why not make the bodies out of compostable plastics reinforced with wool? A good way to keep value in the local farm economy, and make it so a green can can be truly green - just turn it every so many days, and when the pile of auto bodies is done, spread it on the field for a good crop!

Now, should the car body be like an insects, and the outer shell be made of flexible chitin? Or perhaps a breathable fabric, weather resistant? Crumple zones are for aluminum cans - cars of the future shall be made like birds - they shall be made as nature intends high-speed things to be made.:flutterby:

Insects? I thought this was about motorised vehicles.

Yes, indeed it is, Rick! But the future requires us to think differently; and nature has already honed many forms of transportation to perfection - all we need to do is observe and use the knowledge gained. Hence, the field of bio-mimicry! As the fish has an amazingly low drag coefficient, so too we learn from the fish. The bird as well - anything that improved the bird's speed, or reduced it's energy demand gave it the selective advantage in nature, and so this iterative process has been yielding good results for millions of years.

On the evolution of the engine, I began to search to see if Atkinson's engine could be used today - thus far, things termed Atkinson are actually Miller cycle engines (they leave the intake valve open longer to reduce the charge volume in the cylinder, but use the full gas expansion) - I was surprised to learn that Miller cycle engines are already being used in hybrids! But the Atkinson cycle is both efficient and has a high power density; however, it did not have a very smooth linkage system, and heavy counter-balancing I think was an issue. Today? Perhaps the rotary version could prove a success.

On the idea of photovoltaic cells used to capture the energy of combustion - a pet idea of mine is to design special cells that, when coupled with fuel being burned in a "lamp with sturdy mantle", could yield with sufficient efficiency and power density a better way to go from liquid fuels to electricity for automobiles. While this sounds wacky at the start, it might actually prove to have greater efficiency that the internal combustion engine. Although, the gas expansion energy is a total loss.. Just creative thoughts - there's many possible answers to the question.

Perhaps the main thing is to reduce drag and weight on the other end of the equation - while a small amount of the energy in a liter/gallon of fuel ends up moving the vehicle, from a logical perspective halving the demand side of the equation cuts the need for supply in half as well. Light and strong, but flexible and impact tolerant. Aerodynamic as best as is practical. Fancy solutions for energy production and engine design are all good, but the final answer rests with efficiency in overall design, and better layouts for transportation needs.

Yes, indeed it is, Rick! But the future requires us to think differently; and nature has already honed many forms of transportation to perfection - all we need to do is observe and use the knowledge gained. Hence, the field of bio-mimicry! As the fish has an amazingly low drag coefficient, so too we learn from the fish. The bird as well - anything that improved the bird's speed, or reduced it's energy demand gave it the selective advantage in nature, and so this iterative process has been yielding good results for millions of years.

On the evolution of the engine, I began to search to see if Atkinson's engine could be used today - thus far, things termed Atkinson are actually Miller cycle engines (they leave the intake valve open longer to reduce the charge volume in the cylinder, but use the full gas expansion) - I was surprised to learn that Miller cycle engines are already being used in hybrids! But the Atkinson cycle is both efficient and has a high power density; however, it did not have a very smooth linkage system, and heavy counter-balancing I think was an issue. Today? Perhaps the rotary version could prove a success.

On the idea of photovoltaic cells used to capture the energy of combustion - a pet idea of mine is to design special cells that, when coupled with fuel being burned in a "lamp with sturdy mantle", could yield with sufficient efficiency and power density a better way to go from liquid fuels to electricity for automobiles. While this sounds wacky at the start, it might actually prove to have greater efficiency that the internal combustion engine. Although, the gas expansion energy is a total loss.. Just creative thoughts - there's many possible answers to the question.

Perhaps the main thing is to reduce drag and weight on the other end of the equation - while a small amount of the energy in a liter/gallon of fuel ends up moving the vehicle, from a logical perspective halving the demand side of the equation cuts the need for supply in half as well. Light and strong, but flexible and impact tolerant. Aerodynamic as best as is practical. Fancy solutions for energy production and engine design are all good, but the final answer rests with efficiency in overall design, and better layouts for transportation needs.

I understand,interesting!

Pardon the double post there!

Tesla motors got some of the green cars initiative money, so they'll be able to work on more production & innovation, and lower costs! YAY!!

But I still think the car of the future needs to be edible. Yes, more like a sugar cone, less like a waffle cone.:P Perfectly bio-degradable, and in hard economic times, a slice of the front fender could come in handy.

E-CARS :dance:

Bump!:)

 

:dozey:

that Bump !:angry:

just woke the baby:cry:

you can't really hear the bump of an old thread...

Green cars are amazing.

I Like the idea of those Hydrogen powered cars but they cost a bomb .

That's because they are bombs.

Whether using a longer piston stroke or exhaust turbine, I think part of the answer is getting the most out of the combustion energy & drivetrain efficiency.

Green Car Congress: Scuderi Group to Present Preliminary Results on Air-Hybrid Study and Update on Scuderi Engine Prototype Testing at Washington Auto Show

more from the Green Car Congress! :Green Car Congress

Hey Coldplayers! Something to consider, simple tech first for our old otto engines: Exhaust-Based Generator System | Product Design and Development

Probably the idea came out in 1902, but like most things, it takes demand to really make it happen, and get the engineers hopping about to perfect the device.

It seems that if we were to combine great engine efficiency with lithium-iron battery power hybrid powertrains, add some solar panels to make up a % of the charging, and use wind/geothermal/solar to charge the rest with, we're half-way there. Regenerative brakes, lighter vehicle weights, better slip stream, and efficient lights and components solve the other half of the equation. Thus we've got the vehicles we want, without the environmental problems!

Hello Chuck, still fighting the green fight I see?, how have you been?, good I hope:).

Hello Chuck, still fighting the green fight I see?, how have you been?, good I hope:).

Hi! :) It's been a while, hope you are well!!

Good, yes, still fighting the green fight, or rather trying to find answers myself on what can be done..

Which really just makes things better, since there's so much more we can squeeze from every drop of fuel, it's really attainable - but there's so many possibilities it's mind-boggling to me! :rolleyes4::laugh3:

One way is to go all-electric

But which battery technology, or maybe ultra-capacitors with carbon nanotubes? To add solar panels or not?

Another is to go hybrid,

But which drive train design is best?

And then there's liquid fuels, still energy rich and energy dense, so they're definitely in the mix, but which ones, and in what combination?

Plus the efficiency parameters - so much to be gained with just simple modification in vehicle design - it all seems so easy, when the choices are available for us to use today..

Anyhow, at least there's plenty of interesting ways to go with vehicles, which makes for an exciting time in automotive technology! Hope you're still interested!! ;););)

Yes I'm still interested in what the future holds for automotive design although I have to admit I'm not very knowledgable on the subject, I've been good thank you:).

Yes I'm still interested in what the future holds for automotive design although I have to admit I'm not very knowledgable on the subject, I've been good thank you:).

Well thank goodness you're interested - the future looks good, if we make the transitions we need to make. I'm please to hear that you have been good - then Santa will certainly be good to you! :)