Alternative Engines: Are They Worth the Struggle?Alternative Engines: Are They Worth the Struggle?Jon Mucka1OVERVIEW: SHOULD ENGINEERS BOTHER?Whether you drive or not, I’m sure you’ve noticed the sudden jump in gas prices. From hurricanes ravaging the gulf coast to the war in Iraq, and a supposed gasoline shortage, many people are left to wonder if there is any end in sight to the drastic hikes. Many people cannot afford to be driving on three dollars per gallon, so they are looking for alternatives. The development of hybrid engines, further development of diesel engines, and the possibility of hydrogen powered vehicles has brought a glimmer of hope to people around the world. Continuing development of many of these projects can be extremely useful in the future. I feel engineers should continue to work on some of these vehicles so that peoples wallets aren’t left empty.
HYBRID ENGINESTHE BASICSThe hybrid engine is an engine that still uses gasoline, but is also propelled by a nickel-hydride battery. The gas engine is shut off when the car comes to a complete stop. However, during acceleration the cars gasoline engine propels it, and once it reaches a speed of about forty miles per hour, the battery and gas engine work together with a computer to get the best gas mileage possible [1].
WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT HYBRIDS?You see, the thing is they average around fifty miles per gallon. However, they still run on gasoline and can cost up to five thousand dollars more than a car of the same model with an internal-combustion engine. So by the time you reach you save five thousand dollars on gas, it can be up to seven years. If engineers could figure out a way to make a cheaper hybrid, this car could be extremely useful, however with their base prices as high as they are, you’re almost better off buying a car that costs less money that gets decent gas mileage. Hybrid engines can contain up to forty-two percent more parts than that of a regular engine, which is the cause for the heightened price. Automotive engineers are working on ways to cut back on the parts, making the ___________________________
1Jon Mucka, 513 Edinboro Ct. Cranberry Twp, PA 16066, [email protected] cheaper [2]. Fuel cells in the battery are also affected by the temperature. Engineers are working to solve this problem currently so that maximum gas mileage can be achieved at all times [3].
WHERE’S THE POWER?A complaint amongst many hybrid owners and non-owners alike is that they lack in horsepower. They have sluggish acceleration, and slow top speeds. Something needs to be done about that, and progress is being made. The Honda Accord Hybrid is as packs over 250 horsepower and accelerates faster than the Accord V-6 [1]. This is something that should be pursued for all hybrid vehicles. Many people enjoy cars that are practical yet fun to drive. No one wants a four-wheeled moped.
DIESEL ENGINESDiesel engines can be seen frequently on the streets throughout the United States. They can get gas mileage up to forty percent of what a gasoline engine can get, but they do cost up to three thousand dollars more than what a gasoline powered car does. One thing that is holding back more diesel production in the United States is the emissions. The exhaust from these vehicles expels NO gases and engineers haven’t come up with any concrete ideas just yet [4]. Something like this is an idea that needs to be pursued by car companies. Diesel engines can be of value to drivers, and if something can be made to cut back on emissions, there will no doubt be many more diesel engine vehicles on the streets of the United States in the near future.
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We are now in our 30s, as many of our parents grew up and now are doing. In a world now dominated by electric cars and plug-in hybrids and on, say, cruise control, we’re beginning to see the need to introduce cleaner fuel to meet the needs of our world. We are now also starting to see what will happen when it comes to diesel fuel production (and, more importantly, for energy efficiency).
What if car and diesel engines were produced in the same place as gasoline? What if these vehicles made a bigger or smaller contribution in terms of their energy production in terms of emissions? The goal would be no increase in production and no decrease in emissions. These ideas need to be brought into a dialogue. The main purpose of this meeting is to present a roadmap to create an energy efficient and reliable, fuel-efficient diesel engine. The diesel engine has long been a part of the economy of the United States, but I believe that the fact that these are still not in production today is just another sign of a problem with this technology. The problem was once the idea that diesel engines were cheap because they made a lot of electricity was the reason that the gas price did not rise in the first place. And diesel engines could not compete with coal because of how they produced electricity. Then it became an issue of money. Since it is not possible to get a car without an electricity service, and if you want a gas meter and a electric heater to plug in, that means you have to go looking for one with the right number of meters.
The idea is that the people will want to make it simpler to meet production demands and to have a solution that uses more energy resources for those that need it. This is important for the electric vehicle if it is to be part of the future economy of the United States. This can be achieved by providing a gas meter with a good power out capability that can be charged by the meter. This grid-based, electric power system enables us to provide a solution that all electric vehicles can afford. That means that electric vehicles may soon have lower emission levels than traditional vehicles. That could be a great thing for our economy, and for green energy in the future too, because it will allow the electric vehicle to go to market on time at a lower cost and so it can meet emission rates in those cars that have to get energy from the grid. It is a potential solution for the many energy-intensive industries in the United States and across the country, including transportation and fuel-efficiency.
In addition, to improve the efficiency of diesel engines, we have developed an Energy Storage System for gas cylinders that can be distributed and used in conjunction with various fuels. Efficient catalysts that can react with gasoline to convert carbon dioxide into hydrogen are also now being developed, and those can be used to produce diesel engines. Because of this, it might be possible to