People who claim 'they could build a 400mpg Hybrid' amuse me.
Guest
Posts: n/a
People who claim 'they could build a 400mpg Hybrid' amuse me.
Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure. If it WERE possible to build a
400MPG civic or Prius, Honda or Toyota or Ford would would already be
doing it (and bragging about it on the television).
There are limits the universe places on Energy-to-Motion conversion.
You can't exceed those limits. That means NO civic hybrid or prius
hybrid will ever get 400 mpg. As it stands now, both these hybrids
are already operating at 40% efficiency. Even if you increased that
to 60% (a miracle), you'd still only boost them from 50 to 60mpg.
And if you're a wizard like Gandalf who can magically boost a Prius
engine to 100%, such that you had a perfect 1-to-1 conversion w/o
losses, that's still only 125mpg.
In other words, "a 400mpg prius" is not only a bad idea.
It violates the Laws of the universe.
It's perpetual motion.
Impossible.
Now if you leave behind the "standard" car shape, and try something
exotic life a Jetsons-car, then you might be able to do better.
Volkswagen did exactly that a few years ago, with a 1-seat car, 8
horsepower engine, and shaped like a cigar.
But even then, they still only got 250 miles per gallon.
math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure. If it WERE possible to build a
400MPG civic or Prius, Honda or Toyota or Ford would would already be
doing it (and bragging about it on the television).
There are limits the universe places on Energy-to-Motion conversion.
You can't exceed those limits. That means NO civic hybrid or prius
hybrid will ever get 400 mpg. As it stands now, both these hybrids
are already operating at 40% efficiency. Even if you increased that
to 60% (a miracle), you'd still only boost them from 50 to 60mpg.
And if you're a wizard like Gandalf who can magically boost a Prius
engine to 100%, such that you had a perfect 1-to-1 conversion w/o
losses, that's still only 125mpg.
In other words, "a 400mpg prius" is not only a bad idea.
It violates the Laws of the universe.
It's perpetual motion.
Impossible.
Now if you leave behind the "standard" car shape, and try something
exotic life a Jetsons-car, then you might be able to do better.
Volkswagen did exactly that a few years ago, with a 1-seat car, 8
horsepower engine, and shaped like a cigar.
But even then, they still only got 250 miles per gallon.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: People who claim 'they could build a 400mpg Hybrid' amuse me.
> Now if you leave behind the "standard" car shape, and try something
> exotic life a Jetsons-car, then you might be able to do better.
> Volkswagen did exactly that a few years ago, with a 1-seat car, 8
> horsepower engine, and shaped like a cigar.
>
> But even then, they still only got 250 miles per gallon.
I agree it's impossible with the engine design and materials that go into
cars these days. Way too inefficient and way to heavy.
It would require a radical new engine design. Most likely something not
thought of yet.
It would also require a huge leap forward in materials technology .
Something that can be affordable, as strong as steel, and be 90% lighter and
still transport a family.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: People who claim 'they could build a 400mpg Hybrid' amuse me.
> Now if you leave behind the "standard" car shape, and try something
> exotic life a Jetsons-car, then you might be able to do better.
> Volkswagen did exactly that a few years ago, with a 1-seat car, 8
> horsepower engine, and shaped like a cigar.
>
> But even then, they still only got 250 miles per gallon.
I agree it's impossible with the engine design and materials that go into
cars these days. Way too inefficient and way to heavy.
It would require a radical new engine design. Most likely something not
thought of yet.
It would also require a huge leap forward in materials technology .
Something that can be affordable, as strong as steel, and be 90% lighter and
still transport a family.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: People who claim 'they could build a 400mpg Hybrid' amuse me.
> Now if you leave behind the "standard" car shape, and try something
> exotic life a Jetsons-car, then you might be able to do better.
> Volkswagen did exactly that a few years ago, with a 1-seat car, 8
> horsepower engine, and shaped like a cigar.
>
> But even then, they still only got 250 miles per gallon.
I agree it's impossible with the engine design and materials that go into
cars these days. Way too inefficient and way to heavy.
It would require a radical new engine design. Most likely something not
thought of yet.
It would also require a huge leap forward in materials technology .
Something that can be affordable, as strong as steel, and be 90% lighter and
still transport a family.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: People who claim 'they could build a 400mpg Hybrid' amuse me.
> Now if you leave behind the "standard" car shape, and try something
> exotic life a Jetsons-car, then you might be able to do better.
> Volkswagen did exactly that a few years ago, with a 1-seat car, 8
> horsepower engine, and shaped like a cigar.
>
> But even then, they still only got 250 miles per gallon.
I agree it's impossible with the engine design and materials that go into
cars these days. Way too inefficient and way to heavy.
It would require a radical new engine design. Most likely something not
thought of yet.
It would also require a huge leap forward in materials technology .
Something that can be affordable, as strong as steel, and be 90% lighter and
still transport a family.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: People who claim 'they could build a 400mpg Hybrid' amuse me.
On Feb 14, 5:26 am, SFTVratings_t...@yahoo.com wrote:
> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure. If it WERE possible to build a
> 400MPG civic or Prius, Honda or Toyota or Ford would would already be
> doing it (and bragging about it on the television).
>
> There are limits the universe places on Energy-to-Motion conversion.
> You can't exceed those limits. That means NO civic hybrid or prius
> hybrid will ever get 400 mpg. As it stands now, both these hybrids
> are already operating at 40% efficiency. Even if you increased that
> to 60% (a miracle), you'd still only boost them from 50 to 60mpg.
>
> And if you're a wizard like Gandalf who can magically boost a Prius
> engine to 100%, such that you had a perfect 1-to-1 conversion w/o
> losses, that's still only 125mpg.
>
> In other words, "a 400mpg prius" is not only a bad idea.
> It violates the Laws of the universe.
> It's perpetual motion.
> Impossible.
>
> Now if you leave behind the "standard" car shape, and try something
> exotic life a Jetsons-car, then you might be able to do better.
> Volkswagen did exactly that a few years ago, with a 1-seat car, 8
> horsepower engine, and shaped like a cigar.
>
> But even then, they still only got 250 miles per gallon.
Now, with a plug-in hybrid, one can play games. If you only used it
for trips less than the battery can contribute, one could get infinite
miles per gallon OF GASOLINE. However, you'd still be using energy,
of course. It is not really valid to talk about plug-in hybrids in
terms of mpg, but I suspect that is what some folks are doing.
> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure. If it WERE possible to build a
> 400MPG civic or Prius, Honda or Toyota or Ford would would already be
> doing it (and bragging about it on the television).
>
> There are limits the universe places on Energy-to-Motion conversion.
> You can't exceed those limits. That means NO civic hybrid or prius
> hybrid will ever get 400 mpg. As it stands now, both these hybrids
> are already operating at 40% efficiency. Even if you increased that
> to 60% (a miracle), you'd still only boost them from 50 to 60mpg.
>
> And if you're a wizard like Gandalf who can magically boost a Prius
> engine to 100%, such that you had a perfect 1-to-1 conversion w/o
> losses, that's still only 125mpg.
>
> In other words, "a 400mpg prius" is not only a bad idea.
> It violates the Laws of the universe.
> It's perpetual motion.
> Impossible.
>
> Now if you leave behind the "standard" car shape, and try something
> exotic life a Jetsons-car, then you might be able to do better.
> Volkswagen did exactly that a few years ago, with a 1-seat car, 8
> horsepower engine, and shaped like a cigar.
>
> But even then, they still only got 250 miles per gallon.
Now, with a plug-in hybrid, one can play games. If you only used it
for trips less than the battery can contribute, one could get infinite
miles per gallon OF GASOLINE. However, you'd still be using energy,
of course. It is not really valid to talk about plug-in hybrids in
terms of mpg, but I suspect that is what some folks are doing.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: People who claim 'they could build a 400mpg Hybrid' amuse me.
On Feb 14, 5:26 am, SFTVratings_t...@yahoo.com wrote:
> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure. If it WERE possible to build a
> 400MPG civic or Prius, Honda or Toyota or Ford would would already be
> doing it (and bragging about it on the television).
>
> There are limits the universe places on Energy-to-Motion conversion.
> You can't exceed those limits. That means NO civic hybrid or prius
> hybrid will ever get 400 mpg. As it stands now, both these hybrids
> are already operating at 40% efficiency. Even if you increased that
> to 60% (a miracle), you'd still only boost them from 50 to 60mpg.
>
> And if you're a wizard like Gandalf who can magically boost a Prius
> engine to 100%, such that you had a perfect 1-to-1 conversion w/o
> losses, that's still only 125mpg.
>
> In other words, "a 400mpg prius" is not only a bad idea.
> It violates the Laws of the universe.
> It's perpetual motion.
> Impossible.
>
> Now if you leave behind the "standard" car shape, and try something
> exotic life a Jetsons-car, then you might be able to do better.
> Volkswagen did exactly that a few years ago, with a 1-seat car, 8
> horsepower engine, and shaped like a cigar.
>
> But even then, they still only got 250 miles per gallon.
Now, with a plug-in hybrid, one can play games. If you only used it
for trips less than the battery can contribute, one could get infinite
miles per gallon OF GASOLINE. However, you'd still be using energy,
of course. It is not really valid to talk about plug-in hybrids in
terms of mpg, but I suspect that is what some folks are doing.
> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure. If it WERE possible to build a
> 400MPG civic or Prius, Honda or Toyota or Ford would would already be
> doing it (and bragging about it on the television).
>
> There are limits the universe places on Energy-to-Motion conversion.
> You can't exceed those limits. That means NO civic hybrid or prius
> hybrid will ever get 400 mpg. As it stands now, both these hybrids
> are already operating at 40% efficiency. Even if you increased that
> to 60% (a miracle), you'd still only boost them from 50 to 60mpg.
>
> And if you're a wizard like Gandalf who can magically boost a Prius
> engine to 100%, such that you had a perfect 1-to-1 conversion w/o
> losses, that's still only 125mpg.
>
> In other words, "a 400mpg prius" is not only a bad idea.
> It violates the Laws of the universe.
> It's perpetual motion.
> Impossible.
>
> Now if you leave behind the "standard" car shape, and try something
> exotic life a Jetsons-car, then you might be able to do better.
> Volkswagen did exactly that a few years ago, with a 1-seat car, 8
> horsepower engine, and shaped like a cigar.
>
> But even then, they still only got 250 miles per gallon.
Now, with a plug-in hybrid, one can play games. If you only used it
for trips less than the battery can contribute, one could get infinite
miles per gallon OF GASOLINE. However, you'd still be using energy,
of course. It is not really valid to talk about plug-in hybrids in
terms of mpg, but I suspect that is what some folks are doing.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: People who claim 'they could build a 400mpg Hybrid' amuse me.
On Feb 14, 5:26 am, SFTVratings_t...@yahoo.com wrote:
> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure. If it WERE possible to build a
> 400MPG civic or Prius, Honda or Toyota or Ford would would already be
> doing it (and bragging about it on the television).
>
> There are limits the universe places on Energy-to-Motion conversion.
> You can't exceed those limits. That means NO civic hybrid or prius
> hybrid will ever get 400 mpg. As it stands now, both these hybrids
> are already operating at 40% efficiency. Even if you increased that
> to 60% (a miracle), you'd still only boost them from 50 to 60mpg.
>
> And if you're a wizard like Gandalf who can magically boost a Prius
> engine to 100%, such that you had a perfect 1-to-1 conversion w/o
> losses, that's still only 125mpg.
>
> In other words, "a 400mpg prius" is not only a bad idea.
> It violates the Laws of the universe.
> It's perpetual motion.
> Impossible.
>
> Now if you leave behind the "standard" car shape, and try something
> exotic life a Jetsons-car, then you might be able to do better.
> Volkswagen did exactly that a few years ago, with a 1-seat car, 8
> horsepower engine, and shaped like a cigar.
>
> But even then, they still only got 250 miles per gallon.
Now, with a plug-in hybrid, one can play games. If you only used it
for trips less than the battery can contribute, one could get infinite
miles per gallon OF GASOLINE. However, you'd still be using energy,
of course. It is not really valid to talk about plug-in hybrids in
terms of mpg, but I suspect that is what some folks are doing.
> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure. If it WERE possible to build a
> 400MPG civic or Prius, Honda or Toyota or Ford would would already be
> doing it (and bragging about it on the television).
>
> There are limits the universe places on Energy-to-Motion conversion.
> You can't exceed those limits. That means NO civic hybrid or prius
> hybrid will ever get 400 mpg. As it stands now, both these hybrids
> are already operating at 40% efficiency. Even if you increased that
> to 60% (a miracle), you'd still only boost them from 50 to 60mpg.
>
> And if you're a wizard like Gandalf who can magically boost a Prius
> engine to 100%, such that you had a perfect 1-to-1 conversion w/o
> losses, that's still only 125mpg.
>
> In other words, "a 400mpg prius" is not only a bad idea.
> It violates the Laws of the universe.
> It's perpetual motion.
> Impossible.
>
> Now if you leave behind the "standard" car shape, and try something
> exotic life a Jetsons-car, then you might be able to do better.
> Volkswagen did exactly that a few years ago, with a 1-seat car, 8
> horsepower engine, and shaped like a cigar.
>
> But even then, they still only got 250 miles per gallon.
Now, with a plug-in hybrid, one can play games. If you only used it
for trips less than the battery can contribute, one could get infinite
miles per gallon OF GASOLINE. However, you'd still be using energy,
of course. It is not really valid to talk about plug-in hybrids in
terms of mpg, but I suspect that is what some folks are doing.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: People who claim 'they could build a 400mpg Hybrid' amuse me.
On Feb 14, 5:26 am, SFTVratings_t...@yahoo.com wrote:
> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure. If it WERE possible to build a
> 400MPG civic or Prius, Honda or Toyota or Ford would would already be
> doing it (and bragging about it on the television).
>
> There are limits the universe places on Energy-to-Motion conversion.
> You can't exceed those limits. That means NO civic hybrid or prius
> hybrid will ever get 400 mpg. As it stands now, both these hybrids
> are already operating at 40% efficiency. Even if you increased that
> to 60% (a miracle), you'd still only boost them from 50 to 60mpg.
>
> And if you're a wizard like Gandalf who can magically boost a Prius
> engine to 100%, such that you had a perfect 1-to-1 conversion w/o
> losses, that's still only 125mpg.
>
> In other words, "a 400mpg prius" is not only a bad idea.
> It violates the Laws of the universe.
> It's perpetual motion.
> Impossible.
>
> Now if you leave behind the "standard" car shape, and try something
> exotic life a Jetsons-car, then you might be able to do better.
> Volkswagen did exactly that a few years ago, with a 1-seat car, 8
> horsepower engine, and shaped like a cigar.
>
> But even then, they still only got 250 miles per gallon.
Now, with a plug-in hybrid, one can play games. If you only used it
for trips less than the battery can contribute, one could get infinite
miles per gallon OF GASOLINE. However, you'd still be using energy,
of course. It is not really valid to talk about plug-in hybrids in
terms of mpg, but I suspect that is what some folks are doing.
> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure. If it WERE possible to build a
> 400MPG civic or Prius, Honda or Toyota or Ford would would already be
> doing it (and bragging about it on the television).
>
> There are limits the universe places on Energy-to-Motion conversion.
> You can't exceed those limits. That means NO civic hybrid or prius
> hybrid will ever get 400 mpg. As it stands now, both these hybrids
> are already operating at 40% efficiency. Even if you increased that
> to 60% (a miracle), you'd still only boost them from 50 to 60mpg.
>
> And if you're a wizard like Gandalf who can magically boost a Prius
> engine to 100%, such that you had a perfect 1-to-1 conversion w/o
> losses, that's still only 125mpg.
>
> In other words, "a 400mpg prius" is not only a bad idea.
> It violates the Laws of the universe.
> It's perpetual motion.
> Impossible.
>
> Now if you leave behind the "standard" car shape, and try something
> exotic life a Jetsons-car, then you might be able to do better.
> Volkswagen did exactly that a few years ago, with a 1-seat car, 8
> horsepower engine, and shaped like a cigar.
>
> But even then, they still only got 250 miles per gallon.
Now, with a plug-in hybrid, one can play games. If you only used it
for trips less than the battery can contribute, one could get infinite
miles per gallon OF GASOLINE. However, you'd still be using energy,
of course. It is not really valid to talk about plug-in hybrids in
terms of mpg, but I suspect that is what some folks are doing.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: People who claim 'they could build a 400mpg Hybrid' amuse me.
<SFTVratings_troy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1171452408.323940.77550@p10g2000cwp.googlegro ups.com...
> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure.
In the original Star Trek program, people would use these little data
storage things the size of small cookies. What did you think about that idea
when you saw it?
news:1171452408.323940.77550@p10g2000cwp.googlegro ups.com...
> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure.
In the original Star Trek program, people would use these little data
storage things the size of small cookies. What did you think about that idea
when you saw it?
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: People who claim 'they could build a 400mpg Hybrid' amuse me.
<SFTVratings_troy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1171452408.323940.77550@p10g2000cwp.googlegro ups.com...
> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure.
In the original Star Trek program, people would use these little data
storage things the size of small cookies. What did you think about that idea
when you saw it?
news:1171452408.323940.77550@p10g2000cwp.googlegro ups.com...
> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure.
In the original Star Trek program, people would use these little data
storage things the size of small cookies. What did you think about that idea
when you saw it?
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: People who claim 'they could build a 400mpg Hybrid' amuse me.
<SFTVratings_troy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1171452408.323940.77550@p10g2000cwp.googlegro ups.com...
> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure.
In the original Star Trek program, people would use these little data
storage things the size of small cookies. What did you think about that idea
when you saw it?
news:1171452408.323940.77550@p10g2000cwp.googlegro ups.com...
> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure.
In the original Star Trek program, people would use these little data
storage things the size of small cookies. What did you think about that idea
when you saw it?
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: People who claim 'they could build a 400mpg Hybrid' amuse me.
<SFTVratings_troy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1171452408.323940.77550@p10g2000cwp.googlegro ups.com...
> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure.
In the original Star Trek program, people would use these little data
storage things the size of small cookies. What did you think about that idea
when you saw it?
news:1171452408.323940.77550@p10g2000cwp.googlegro ups.com...
> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure.
In the original Star Trek program, people would use these little data
storage things the size of small cookies. What did you think about that idea
when you saw it?
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: People who claim 'they could build a 400mpg Hybrid' amuse me.
"Don Stauffer in Minnesota" <stauffer@usfamily.net> wrote in message
news:1171463112.249185.6330@j27g2000cwj.googlegrou ps.com...
> On Feb 14, 5:26 am, SFTVratings_t...@yahoo.com wrote:
>> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
>> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
>> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure. If it WERE possible to build a
>> 400MPG civic or Prius, Honda or Toyota or Ford would would already be
>> doing it (and bragging about it on the television).
>>
>> There are limits the universe places on Energy-to-Motion conversion.
>> You can't exceed those limits. That means NO civic hybrid or prius
>> hybrid will ever get 400 mpg. As it stands now, both these hybrids
>> are already operating at 40% efficiency. Even if you increased that
>> to 60% (a miracle), you'd still only boost them from 50 to 60mpg.
>>
>> And if you're a wizard like Gandalf who can magically boost a Prius
>> engine to 100%, such that you had a perfect 1-to-1 conversion w/o
>> losses, that's still only 125mpg.
>>
>> In other words, "a 400mpg prius" is not only a bad idea.
>> It violates the Laws of the universe.
>> It's perpetual motion.
>> Impossible.
>>
>> Now if you leave behind the "standard" car shape, and try something
>> exotic life a Jetsons-car, then you might be able to do better.
>> Volkswagen did exactly that a few years ago, with a 1-seat car, 8
>> horsepower engine, and shaped like a cigar.
>>
>> But even then, they still only got 250 miles per gallon.
>
>
>
> Now, with a plug-in hybrid, one can play games. If you only used it
> for trips less than the battery can contribute, one could get infinite
> miles per gallon OF GASOLINE. However, you'd still be using energy,
> of course. It is not really valid to talk about plug-in hybrids in
> terms of mpg, but I suspect that is what some folks are doing.
Car and Drive drove a hybrid prius behind a truck that basically eliminated
all drag. They got around 80 mpg. This was rolling resistance. In real life,
you're going to get more efficent cars over time. But the practical limit
for cars is probably around 60-80 mpg with advances in current (hybrid)
technology. You're not going to do much better by using electricity only.
36.6 kilowatt hours of electricity has the same amount of energy as one
gallon of gasoline. To make the answer meaningful, you have to include the
energy it takes to refine the gasoline and the energy it takes to make the
electricity.
http://www.onlineconversion.com/energy.htm
A kilowatt hour costs about 12 cents to buy, so costs about $4 for the same
amount of energy as in a gallon of gasoline. But it gas engines are only
about 40% efficent, so it costs about $5 for the same amount of energy. So
there is not much cost advantage to using all electricity. Considering that
the motors only work in an electric car when the engine is working, it
probably pays off for both the enivronment and in cash for all-electric cars
with gasoline generators for longer trips (which is what the VW car might
be).
jeff
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: People who claim 'they could build a 400mpg Hybrid' amuse me.
"Don Stauffer in Minnesota" <stauffer@usfamily.net> wrote in message
news:1171463112.249185.6330@j27g2000cwj.googlegrou ps.com...
> On Feb 14, 5:26 am, SFTVratings_t...@yahoo.com wrote:
>> Not so much because of the statement, but because they don't have any
>> math to back-up said statement. Might as well say, "If I flap my arms
>> real hard, I could fly." Yeah. Sure. If it WERE possible to build a
>> 400MPG civic or Prius, Honda or Toyota or Ford would would already be
>> doing it (and bragging about it on the television).
>>
>> There are limits the universe places on Energy-to-Motion conversion.
>> You can't exceed those limits. That means NO civic hybrid or prius
>> hybrid will ever get 400 mpg. As it stands now, both these hybrids
>> are already operating at 40% efficiency. Even if you increased that
>> to 60% (a miracle), you'd still only boost them from 50 to 60mpg.
>>
>> And if you're a wizard like Gandalf who can magically boost a Prius
>> engine to 100%, such that you had a perfect 1-to-1 conversion w/o
>> losses, that's still only 125mpg.
>>
>> In other words, "a 400mpg prius" is not only a bad idea.
>> It violates the Laws of the universe.
>> It's perpetual motion.
>> Impossible.
>>
>> Now if you leave behind the "standard" car shape, and try something
>> exotic life a Jetsons-car, then you might be able to do better.
>> Volkswagen did exactly that a few years ago, with a 1-seat car, 8
>> horsepower engine, and shaped like a cigar.
>>
>> But even then, they still only got 250 miles per gallon.
>
>
>
> Now, with a plug-in hybrid, one can play games. If you only used it
> for trips less than the battery can contribute, one could get infinite
> miles per gallon OF GASOLINE. However, you'd still be using energy,
> of course. It is not really valid to talk about plug-in hybrids in
> terms of mpg, but I suspect that is what some folks are doing.
Car and Drive drove a hybrid prius behind a truck that basically eliminated
all drag. They got around 80 mpg. This was rolling resistance. In real life,
you're going to get more efficent cars over time. But the practical limit
for cars is probably around 60-80 mpg with advances in current (hybrid)
technology. You're not going to do much better by using electricity only.
36.6 kilowatt hours of electricity has the same amount of energy as one
gallon of gasoline. To make the answer meaningful, you have to include the
energy it takes to refine the gasoline and the energy it takes to make the
electricity.
http://www.onlineconversion.com/energy.htm
A kilowatt hour costs about 12 cents to buy, so costs about $4 for the same
amount of energy as in a gallon of gasoline. But it gas engines are only
about 40% efficent, so it costs about $5 for the same amount of energy. So
there is not much cost advantage to using all electricity. Considering that
the motors only work in an electric car when the engine is working, it
probably pays off for both the enivronment and in cash for all-electric cars
with gasoline generators for longer trips (which is what the VW car might
be).
jeff