Comments on: Honda develops heat-harnessing hybrid technology

By: jackjimturkey

jackjimturkey — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 18:04:01 +0000

LLn needs to get some learnin’ on that there subject-verb agreement. I really think one of you nerds is on its staff.

By: crosscoupling

crosscoupling — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 23:06:36 +0000

The auto manufacturers seem to be in a phase of Paradigm paralysis…

Thermo electric generators (TEG’s) may be another effective option which uses refrigrants at lower boiling points compared to water and operates on a Rankine cycle may produce more power. Micro turbines may a low weight power and heat source to couple with the TEG’s.

I wonder if flow battries are options Auto manufacturers are considering, in which can you can pump in fresh electrolyte (like gas) to charge your car battries instead of plug in hybrids.

By: MY Si

MY Si — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:57:06 +0000

Now thats HOT! Get it? Hot? Oh i crack myself up.

By: horvatic

horvatic — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:06:32 +0000

Another myth that should be displaced is that hybrids only run on the electric power at 25 mph or less. Non-sense again. I’ve been in the Prius doing more than 50 mph and watched it go into electric power mode. Typically when this happens is when the road is very flat or slightly down hill.

By: horvatic

horvatic — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:03:20 +0000

Hybrids on the highway real world still get 50 MPG. The myth that hybrids lose there efficiency when driving on the highway is total non-sense. My brothers 2006 toyota Prius does between 47 MPG to 51 MPG doing highway trips up to Redding, CA from San Jose, CA. There quite efficient in town or on the highway.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:55:03 +0000

Oh good. Another way to drive the price of Hybrids even further. There are other ways to make cars fuel efficient. Weight and aerodynamics are a good place to start. Of course when the government mandates that everything has to survive a head on collision with a Kenworth it becomes increasingly difficult for mainstream automakers to go that route.

By: Scarface03

Scarface03 — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:45:37 +0000

With more stringent fuel economy standards in both Europe and the U.S., I think we may see other, previuosly-deemed-not-worth-our-time technologies resurrected and given full consideration.

I don’t know anything about the weight issues, but this sounds like a good idea.

By: casualobserver

casualobserver — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:27:35 +0000

Smart. This captures real energy which is being wasted, much like dual-cycle powerplants have been doing for years. Admittedly this is complex, but if it works, you could also harness the energy wasted by the cooling system as well. Something like 70% of the energy content of fuel is wasted through the exhaust and radiator.
Perhaps they could do this simpler with a Sterling engine

By: Z06ified

Z06ified — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:14:04 +0000

BMW has been looking at this technology for years. Conclusion has been its not efficient enough to bother, adds too much weight and cost too.

By: SwerveEarly

SwerveEarly — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:50:23 +0000

Steam driven generators are very high maintenance. Hybrids need to simplify not add more complex and costly systems.

By: JSP

JSP — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:16:16 +0000

I read about a similar system by BMW a while back. They should collaborate to speed up the process of R&D and deliver the technology to us sooner.