DailyTech - Short Term Fuel Efficiency Improvements

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DailyTech Poll Discussion Short Term Fuel Efficiency Improvements
Brandon Hill (Blog) - July 16, 2009 8:19 PM

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17 comment(s) - last by mmntech.. on Jul 17 at 9:21 PM

What do you think the auto industry should focus on in the short term to improve fuel efficiency in vehicles?

Make further refinements to existing gasoline engines (direct injection, smaller displacement + turbocharging, etc.) (443 votes)
30%
Introduce more diesel models at competitive price points. (410 votes)
28%
Expand the availability of gasoline-electric hybrid models (i.e., Prius, Insight, Volt, etc.) (463 votes)
31%
I'll stick to my gas guzzlers, thank you -- it's my right!! (159 votes)
11%
1,475 total votes

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This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled

neat!

By maverick85wd on 7/17/2009 10:03:23 AM , Rating: 2

like the new poll feature. My thoughts were more of a combination of 1 and 2, but I have nothing against hybrids/EVs, either. And some people need a gas guzzler. Can't you have an all of the above?

RE: neat!

By kenji4life on 7/17/2009 10:21:11 AM , Rating: 2

what about "other"?

I would like to see some big steps in materials. We could utilize more body parts made of carbon fiber to reduce weight. I know it's costly though. How about a Mr. Fusion anyone? "You mean this sucker's nuclear!?!"

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RE: neat!

By mmntech on 7/17/2009 9:21:29 PM , Rating: 2

We've got six years left to knock out a Mr. Fusion.

Composite materials are ideal to use to to their high strength to weight ratio. Problem is that carbon fibre is difficult to mass produce. It's a vary messy and time consuming process. It can't just be moulded like steel. That's why it's so expensive. The only other option is to reduce weight of steel components, which inherently makes cars more dangerous. So I picked diesel. To me it was the only viable option on the list.

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RE: neat!

By TheSpaniard on 7/17/2009 10:55:44 AM , Rating: 2

well the idea is where you would like to apply research to.

not removing other options but expanding one of the mentioned ones.

(at least thats the way I read it)

diesel!

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nice!

By kattanna on 7/17/2009 9:55:01 AM , Rating: 3

i like this new feature. hopefully they will be new daily polls.

RE: nice!

By Brandon Hill

(blog) on 7/17/2009 10:49:40 AM , Rating: 2

Yeah, it's something new we're trying out. If you guys have ideas for new polls, send them to news@dailytech.com

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Vote Totals

By spwrozek on 7/17/2009 10:32:19 AM , Rating: 2

The vote totals on the home page don't match the totals on the comment page (384 vs 486). I refreshed both pages but got the same results.

RE: Vote Totals

By Nyceis on 7/17/2009 11:34:02 AM , Rating: 2

It is cached on the sidebar. I just turned the cache down to five minutes so the totals will stay closer.

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I like this poll feature too

By nugglife4me on 7/17/2009 12:01:29 PM , Rating: 2

What I don't understand about all the debate on 'alternative fuels' and 'hybrid/elec vs. all elec vs. diesel elec vs. turbo diesel vs. etc' is that there are many different modes of transportation and very different needs transportation wise across out country. We have a great variety of population density, geography, economic status, and vehicle needs. I don't think there is any one 'solution' or 'best tech' here. As many have pointed out, *if* there were a massive switch to 'plug-in' hybrid-elec/elec the existing infrastructure would not be suited to handle the additional load. We now have almost price parity between the 'new clean' diesel fuel and traditional petrol(93 octane). What we really need IMHO is to make advancements in 3 main areas - A. Hybrids(gas/elec & diesel/elec) B. small displacement petrol/diesel with turbo/compressor C. advancements in regular petrol(cheap/reliable/utility). This approach would yield a mix of vehicles that accomplish different task's most efficiently, then you let consumers pick what works for their individual needs/status/work/driving range/etc.
The idea of a all elec vehicle that 'only' goes say 50 miles/charge being useless is absurd, many people could easily fit their daily commute into a 30-50 mile window and be free of petrol/diesel use all together for work week travel. Most people have a gas guzzler already and adequate storage space for more than one car, and they simply use the other for longer trips. It seems that an all elec w short range and basic functionality could be produced quite cheaply, and I bet plenty people would bite on that.

RE: I like this poll feature too

By djc208 on 7/17/2009 12:13:02 PM , Rating: 2

Agreed, just like with alternate energy, the solution isn't going to be one option. We're going to need to diversify to meet our requirements, and that's not a bad thing.

My problem is that the playing field isn't level here. Non-commercial diesel vehicles are lumped in with gasoline engines in emissions requirements and diesel fuel is taxed at higher rates. While hybrid vehicles qualify for tax breaks and incentives.

Create regulations that let each technology compete fairly and let the market decide where they want to go. I think diesel tech is a great option, but I'm literally building my own vehicle to get what I want.

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saving gas

By frozentundra123456 on 7/17/2009 5:59:36 PM , Rating: 2

The most obvious solution is to just drive smaller vehicles.
Most people dont need a truck, van or SUV.

RE: saving gas

By letmepicyou on 7/17/2009 6:48:46 PM , Rating: 2

I don't think telling people to drive what they don't want to drive is a realistic solution. We have to have something grounded in reality. Its pretty simple to say that people will buy a vehicle that's lighter and more fuel efficient if it meets their expectations and requirements. The obvious solution is to work on the 2 fronts that won't scare people away from the vehicle. #1 is weight reduction through advanced materials construction. #2 is making new and better power plants that will provide good performance AND fuel economy. Ford EcoBoost, anyone?

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By yacoub on 7/17/2009 12:43:06 PM , Rating: 3

Expand the availability of LNG/Hydrogen-powered vehicles. That's often called the most realistic future state for fueled vehicles, and the sooner we get started expanding their availability and fueling sources, the closer we'll be to that future and the energy independence it brings.

Not on the poll, use/develop new frame and chassis technologies

By Magius on 7/17/2009 1:21:41 PM , Rating: 2

This is one area that seems to be ignored most of the time. Most of the power that a vehicle is using is wasted fighting drag and weight. I have seen some documentaries regarding the development of alternative materials and processes to create lighter but sturdier frames and chassis. Designed properly (low center of gravity) a car with such a frame/chassis could have a much higher mileage, even with run-of-the-mill motor tech.

Why is one of the best options not available in the poll?

By letmepicyou on 7/17/2009 2:53:27 PM , Rating: 2

This poll is missing (why I have no idea) one of the best options to increase fuel economy. There is another great way to make headway into fuel economy and thats by making the move into high-tech construction materials for automobiles. Think, carbon-monoque frame and body, instead of the centuries-old and outmoded material, STEEL. If we could get the auto industry out of the steel industry's back pocket, we could really get somewhere. Most cars today are made of nearly identical steels as the origional model A, and it's time to move on. And before everyone starts to shout about the cost of carbon fiber vehicles, the reason the cost is prohibitive is because no investment has been made in composite infrastructure. Once you make the initial investment, cost begin to plumet soon after. The average car could probably weigh in the neighborhood of 750-1000 lbs less if all the steel components were swapped out for carbon composites. Fuel economy as well as performance would increase by leaps and bounds. So lets see a few more options in the next survey. ;)

If possible I'd have voted for the middle Two

By deputc26 on 7/17/2009 6:42:48 PM , Rating: 2

But because the third option included parallel hybrids I did not vote for it. Serial hybrids are by far the biggest step we could take, preferably diesel serial hybrids.

Diesels

By jfswa on 7/17/2009 12:17:13 PM , Rating: 1

For short term,car companies should import some of the diesels models they already make in Europe. This would lower mpg up to 30% plus there would not be a need for engineering costs since they are already being produced.