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Wednesday,
October 25, 2006
"Injecting
small quantities of ethanol into car engines at moments of
peak demand -- such as accelerating sharply or climbing a
steep hill -- could improve the fuel economy of gasoline
engines by 20 percent to 30 percent, a scientist said on
Wednesday." (more)
Such technology would probably cost about $1000.00 per
vehicle and could be mass produced by 2011. The technology
would also enable vehicles to use smaller engines.
Consequently, some are calling the technology a hybrid
challenger. Why?
By 2011, Toyota for example, believes its hybrid
technology will not only be more sophisticated and half as
heavy - making it significantly more fuel efficient - but
half as expensive. Thus, by 2011 you can have a hybrid
vehicle that increases fuel efficiency by 30 percent to 40
percent - at least - for $1500 more per vehicle, or you
can have an ethanol vehicle that achieves 20 percent to 30
percent better fuel efficiency for $1000 more per vehicle
(Of course, will ethanol be cost-effective versus gasoline
and available?)
Or, why not have vision? Why not offer a flex-fuel hybrid
vehicle that increases fuel efficiency by 50 percent to 60
percent for just $2500 more per vehicle? Geez, why not
make it a flex-fuel plug-in hybrid vehicle and be 70
percent to 80 percent more fuel efficient.
But why shoot for the moon? Why dream the big dream when
we can settle for complacency?
Instead we can stick with a 20 percent gain with ethanol
and all of America can drive super-Hummers because they
will be so damn fuel efficient. Suddenly, we'll realize we
need just as much foreign oil as ever, plus as much as
ethanol as we can find!! Then, not only will America be
beholden to big oil and foreign governments, but big agri-business
as well - a capitalist's dream!
posted by Dahcredyns at 11:20
AM
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