Production Version of the 2010 Government Motors CrapMobile
video here CLICK
For what.....6 blocks?
Micro turbine BTTT
Be very, very careful in figuring out MPG ratings on plug-in hybrids. You have to make sure that the battery charge is the same at the beginning and end, or else you are discharging the battery without counting it in the total mileage rating.
“In early demonstration testing the car is getting up to 80 miles per gallon and travels 40 miles on electric power before the Capstone turbine generator starts up and charges the lithium ion batteries,” added Langford.”
Ok, so what is the mileage 41 miles down the road AFTER the Capstone turbine generator starts up and begins using fuel to generat electricity to run the car.........?????
I guess the first 40 miles was on “free” household current...eh? LOL.
“Features include: the lowest emissions of any non-catalyzed fossil fuel combustion,”
Since we have catalytic converters here, how does in compare to vehicles already working fine?
Production Version of the 2010 Government Motors CrapMobile
From my perspective, plug-in vehicles (including Chev's Volt) are DOA. You are effectively always tethered to your home by a distance which is half of whatever the cars actual range. IOW, in a vehicle with a 100 mile range, you can only travel 40-50 miles from your home. Not very practical.
I’m sure that Chairman Barky of GM and Chrysler will demand that this technology be installed in all the 2010 Obamobiles.
RS Concept version looks to have potential.
Chrysler already showed similar technology. The on-board engine is only used to charge the batteries, not run the vehicle.
The Wrangler EV can go 400 miles on 8 gallons of gasoline or 50 mpg.
Using a turbine or diesel engine to run the generator would yield higher mpg.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/chrysler-turbine-concept-cars.htm
I remember seeing one of these turbine cars in the early 60’s.
Very nice but can It pull my 40 foot 5th wheel RV??
Will someone please find and post a pic of the Porsche-hearse going off the cliff at the end of “Harold and Maude”?
That’s all good and fine....but does it still cost more to run the thing than a gas engine?
It’s nonsense to talk about mpg when you are also taking on electric “fuel” from the grid. An electric golf cart gets more than 1,000,000 mpg.
US Army has used turbine engines in there tanks for years. Modern locomotives use turbine engines that get over 45 MPG.
It’s about time someone “shrunk” turbine technology down for use in automobiles. My question would be is why do you need batteries? Can’t a turbine engine run a generator alone? Couldn’t the generator power an induction motor?
The exhaust could flow through a heat exchanger supplying climate control. Bleed air could be used to wash rain from windows. The exhaust could also be used to power an assesory generator to suppy power to other automobile utilities.
This is technology that has been used in the aerospace industry for literally decades, but for some reason has not translated to the auto industry.
Just my .02
Today we are seeing small teams working to develop hybrid vehicles, battery powered vehicles, etc., in pretty much the same way the backyard mechanics build the original horseless buggies. The current buggy manufacturers in Chrysler and at Government Motors are of no help...having been married to the head (or maybe the rear) of the buggy manufacturers' and the buggy-whip manufacturers' unions--BHO.
I suspect that the time is fast approaching in which a new automobile manufacturer will arise in the United States--but will steer clear of New Fallujah--when looking for locations to manufacture its vehicles.
Oh, look - 100-year-old diesel-electric train technology.
Well, FINALLY... a hybrid that works.