Very much doubt we’ll see those MPG’s
July 24, 2007
Engineers are working on efficient, spark-free engines that could boost our cars a few more MPG’s. By clever management of the fuel and unrestricted air, and switching between spark-operated and sparkless mode, they solve a timing problem that has troubled sparkless engines.
It’s good news, but I doubt we’ll see the extra fuel economy. Since I started driving, engine power has just about doubled while gas mileage has stayed the same. So we know how improvements in engine design end up being used.
Categories: Science & Technology, Transportation
Yes what a milestone our car manufacturers have reached. I saw a commercial a week or so ago where GM was hailing a new era of cars with good MPG. They claimed they had like 19 cars that get over 20MPGs.
1) how many of them are actually from foreign companies GM bought?
2) how many total cars do they make? Like 100. So 19% of their cars get over 20MPGs?
3) Didn’t we have cars that get over 30MPGs 50 years ago? How is this some huge big thing to celebrate?
Interesting concept. And I do figure that such an engine can improve fuel economy..a diesel under a load will usually get better MPG than an equivalent gasoline engine..in fact my next pickup will probably be a diesel for that very reason.
I thought it was. Stuff like this is only possible because we can make engines that think now. Of course, they only think about combustion, but still that’s pretty cool.
Friend of mine is a diesel mechanic. His nickname is “Diesel Dick”. And that is the name of his shop.