Future "greener" vehicles

[325iMSport]

Im will be undertaking a research project in alternative cleaner fuels for vehicles and also what technology is being used to improve effiency and improve emmisions.

I have just got a general plan in mind so can anyone let me know what they think and anything that i have missed out.

Firstly will be looking at alternative fuels are there to petrol and diesel topower vehicles. Such as LPG, hydrogen, hybrid, full electric. Any others?

Seconds what technology is being used such as ligher construction materials, start/stop, electric steering rack and water pumps, more aerodynamic shapes, brake generation.

So again, have i missed anything out that i can add to the research?

thanks

[325iMSport]

Anyone got any ideas?

[Beyond Rational]

A proof reader

[TUS 373]

How about the infrastructure needed to support certain technologies? Not all garages sell LPG, even fewer bio-ethannol. Hyrdrogen will mean the emissions will be water, but how can the infrastructure be brought about to ensure that most garages sell hyrdogen. The speed of adoption and cost of adoption means there is a catch 22. People won't buy alternative fuel vehicles unless they can get the fuel everywhere. Garages won't invest the cost to supply these fuels, unless there is a demand (i.e. enough cars and customers) to justify it. Maybe the Government could be expected to push alternative fuel distribution, but will the current economic problems, it is unlikley that subsidies will be available. So...being green isn't just down to technology. It's down to the other macro factors at play too.

[325iMSport]

TUS 373 said:

How about the infrastructure needed to support certain technologies? Not all garages sell LPG, even fewer bio-ethannol. Hyrdrogen will mean the emissions will be water, but how can the infrastructure be brought about to ensure that most garages sell hyrdogen. The speed of adoption and cost of adoption means there is a catch 22. People won't buy alternative fuel vehicles unless they can get the fuel everywhere. Garages won't invest the cost to supply these fuels, unless there is a demand (i.e. enough cars and customers) to justify it. Maybe the Government could be expected to push alternative fuel distribution, but will the current economic problems, it is unlikley that subsidies will be available. So...being green isn't just down to technology. It's down to the other macro factors at play too.

Thank you, this is a very valid point that you have made. Its an area that i have not really thought of. Like you say, there is little point in these "greener" vehicles if the fuel is difficult to get hold of. I read a while back that there is only a handful of bio-ethanol garages in the UK.

That is a valid point that i will look into, but the more of the research is to focussed on the enviromental side of things.

p.s. I think a proof reader is needed, just re-read the first post and it could do with improving

[eldar]

325iMSport said:

Anyone got any ideas?

Nuclear? A couple of dozen kittens and a big whip?

[TUS 373]

I remember reading through some DTI grant applications a couple of years ago. Morgan got a grant to explore hyrdogen power for their sports car (really).

I drive a hybrid Lexus, and love it. From a product adoption point of view, petrol-electric hybrids are a great way for manufacturers to encourage new product adoption. You can buy petrol with ease, so little risk to buying one. It would take an impressive 'disruptive technology' to knock petrol and diesel off their pedestals.

Need to look at the whole package. Their are cars that can do 1000 mpg because they are shaped like cockroaches and covered in solar panels, going down flat straight roads in Australia, but they don't meet people's transportaion needs.

Should be an interesting project!

[325iMSport]

Cheers mate, much appreciated.

Regarding the technologies i mentioned earlier to what manufacturers are using to improve efficiency, that is all the techniques i could come up with after a bit of researching. Again are there any others?

Thanks guys for the help, i know im probably annoying you with the amount of questions im asking,

[anonymous-user]

The thing is, the biggest issue with "cleaner future technologies" is not actually the technologies as such, each has it's advantages and disadvantages. No, the really problem with all of them is the cost! What needs to be researched is what the end user will actually pay for any given environmental benifit, percived or actual!!

The OEM's currently will not pay any more than they currently do for any particular platforms BOM!

The tricky bit is the cars which need to be "green" the focus's and Astra's etc are the ones without the premium price to absorb the on-cost. Whereas the Lambo's and fezza's could just about swallow say a 1to 5 k price increase for greentech, but that actually won;t make any significant difference to global emissions etc!

[325iMSport]

Thanks, last question is that can anyone reccomend any good sources of information on this area?

I have found a few on google but can anyone reccomend any more?