Go Back   Science Forums > Physical Sciences Forums > Engineering and Applied Science
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 04-29-2008   #21 (permalink)
HydrogenBond's Avatar
Creating


 



Not Ranked  0 score     
Re: NOVA: Car of the Future

Quote:
ScienceDaily (Apr. 24, 2005) — Using a new electrically-assisted microbial fuel cell (MFC) that does not require oxygen, Penn State environmental engineers and a scientist at Ion Power Inc. have developed the first process that enables bacteria to coax four times as much hydrogen directly out of biomass than can be generated typically by fermentation alone
These bacteria make hydrogen gas from fermentation of biomass including waste. The electricity assists, making them more efficient. We have the makings of solar powered septic tanks to make hydrogen. They can be powered by leaves, grass, human waste, and other biomass.
Reply With Quote
Old 04-29-2008   #22 (permalink)
freeztar's Avatar
M.C. Grillmeister

Moderator
Editor
Basic Subscription
Sponsor

Location:
ATL, GA, USA
Latest blog entry:
 
freeztar has a reputation beyond reputefreeztar has a reputation beyond reputefreeztar has a reputation beyond reputefreeztar has a reputation beyond reputefreeztar has a reputation beyond reputefreeztar has a reputation beyond reputefreeztar has a reputation beyond reputefreeztar has a reputation beyond reputefreeztar has a reputation beyond reputefreeztar has a reputation beyond reputefreeztar has a reputation beyond repute
 



Not Ranked  0 score     
Re: NOVA: Car of the Future

Quote:
Originally Posted by HydrogenBond View Post
These bacteria make hydrogen gas from fermentation of biomass including waste. The electricity assists, making them more efficient. We have the makings of solar powered septic tanks to make hydrogen. They can be powered by leaves, grass, human waste, and other biomass.
Good find HB!
This reminds me of the very end of "Back to the Future" where Doc flies in with the DeLorian and fills up the fuel tank with trash from the garbage can.

Perhaps we're not too far from making that a reality.


----------------
Hypography Science Forums Moderator
---
"There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew." - Marshall McLuhan

"We must not forget that when radium was discovered no one knew that it would prove useful in hospitals. The work was one of pure science. And this is a proof that scientific work must not be considered from the point of view of the direct usefulness of it." - Marie Curie
Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2008   #23 (permalink)
Boerseun's Avatar
Phantom Cow of Justice

Moderator

Location:
Hartbeespoort, South Africa
 
Boerseun has a reputation beyond reputeBoerseun has a reputation beyond reputeBoerseun has a reputation beyond reputeBoerseun has a reputation beyond reputeBoerseun has a reputation beyond reputeBoerseun has a reputation beyond reputeBoerseun has a reputation beyond reputeBoerseun has a reputation beyond reputeBoerseun has a reputation beyond reputeBoerseun has a reputation beyond reputeBoerseun has a reputation beyond repute
 



Not Ranked  0 score     
Re: NOVA: Car of the Future

Flywheels would be my bet...

Currently, flywheels have been tested as "generators" for electric-drive vehicles, at RPM's up to 150,000. Apparently, the energy density in a very low-friction flywheel turning at speed is quite a few times higher than the best batteries in production.

So what you do is suck energy from the flywheel when accellerating, which will drop its RPM's - you basically wrap the sucker in coils, and suck energy via induction - you have electric motors at every wheel. Then, when you're either going downhill or braking, you suck energy from the wheels and spin up the flywheel. Induction via moving shock absorbers adds some more fun to the party. Also, when you park, the flywheel keeps spinning - if you don't use energy from it, it'll literally spin for weeks. BUT, with your ride parked in the sun, solar panels keep speeding the flywheel up to partially replace lost kinetic energy. Every bit helps. For a quick charge, you can just plug in to the grid - but if you have time, you can just let your car stand in the sun for however long it takes.

Only snag here, is that a flywheel going at 150,000rpm is a bomb. A very nasty bomb, at that. Any manufacturing defects or cracks in the flywheel causing it to fly apart at such speed, will not only destroy the car and its passengers, but will cause considerable damage to other cars (and passengers) in the vicinity. A head-on collision between two flywheel-driven cars, both with fully sped-up flywheels, will be quite a sight - just make sure you stand very far away...

But that being the case, petrol-driven vehicles were also seen as driving bombs at the time of their inception. So, there probably will be a way around it. Advanced material technology could make the concept safe, or a sort of computerised "real-time X-ray analysis" of the flywheels as they turn, might simply shut down the flywheel on detecting hairline cracks or any other sort of structural problems with the flywheel, rendering it safer than they currently are.

But I think the energy density issue might swing the future car debate towards flywheels. Every other possible solution is also riddled with obstacles, and scientists worldwide are working in overcoming them.


----------------
Hypography Forums Moderator

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII



Ecce bos taurus justitia
Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2008   #24 (permalink)
Pyrotex's Avatar
Slaying Bad Memes

Moderator
Editor

Location:
Houston, Texas
Latest blog entry:
 
Pyrotex has a reputation beyond reputePyrotex has a reputation beyond reputePyrotex has a reputation beyond reputePyrotex has a reputation beyond reputePyrotex has a reputation beyond reputePyrotex has a reputation beyond reputePyrotex has a reputation beyond reputePyrotex has a reputation beyond reputePyrotex has a reputation beyond reputePyrotex has a reputation beyond reputePyrotex has a reputation beyond repute
Send a message via MSN to Pyrotex
 



Not Ranked  0 score     
Re: NOVA: Car of the Future

wrap the engine in a loose blanket made of Kevlar and nanotubes. If the flywheel breaks apart (and the kinetic energy at 150 Krpm is indeed awesome!), then the blanket will absorb maybe 90% of that energy before destructing.


----------------
Hypography Forums Moderator
-- - - - - -
What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are.
Epictetus, Greek Philosopher
The map is NOT the territory.
Korzybski, Polish-American Philosopher
Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2008   #25 (permalink)
Buffy's Avatar
Resident Slayer

Administrator

Location:
Sunnydale, CA
 
Buffy has a reputation beyond reputeBuffy has a reputation beyond reputeBuffy has a reputation beyond reputeBuffy has a reputation beyond reputeBuffy has a reputation beyond reputeBuffy has a reputation beyond reputeBuffy has a reputation beyond reputeBuffy has a reputation beyond reputeBuffy has a reputation beyond reputeBuffy has a reputation beyond reputeBuffy has a reputation beyond repute
 



Not Ranked  0 score     
Re: NOVA: Car of the Future

Quote:
Originally Posted by Boerseun View Post
A head-on collision between two flywheel-driven cars, both with fully sped-up flywheels, will be quite a sight
Sounds like a job for the Mythbusters: I know they've been looking to top the "remove dried concrete from the concrete mixer truck" episode....

I reject your reality and substitute my own,
Buffy


----------------
"If you do not agree with anything I say, I'll not only retract it, but deny under oath that I ever said it!"
__________________________________________________ ______________-- Tom Lehrer

"No Robbie, not Europe!"


Forum Administrator
Hypography Science Forums - Science for Boys and Girls! Its not for nothing that we hang out here.
Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2008   #26 (permalink)
InfiniteNow's Avatar
Suspended


Location:
Austin, TX
 
InfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond repute
 



Not Ranked  0 score     
Re: NOVA: Car of the Future

So, a combination of technologies is what I'm hearing.

The challenge, of course, is making a change to the infrastructure as well. More than 2 billion more cars in China and India by the end of the decade. Sure would be nice if we stopped using old, outdated, detrimental technology while adding this tremendous number of new vehicles.

The idea being that it's easier to setup new infrastructures while they are young and more flexible, using the best ideas and approaches, than it is to completely retool and retrofit old infrastructures when their "cogs" can no longer be supported.
Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2008   #27 (permalink)
InfiniteNow's Avatar
Suspended


Location:
Austin, TX
 
InfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond reputeInfiniteNow has a reputation beyond repute
 



Not Ranked  0 score     
Re: NOVA: Car of the Future

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zythryn View Post
While not quite the huge step forward many of these idea are, Hymotion has started taking orders for a module for the Prius which will bump the mileage to as much as 150mpg for short trips.
Z... You're beautiful, baby! Thank you for sharing this!


This is the kind of thing that our government should subsidize...
Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2008   #28 (permalink)
Zythryn's Avatar
Creating

Platinum Subscription
Sponsor

Location:
Minnesota
 
Zythryn has a reputation beyond reputeZythryn has a reputation beyond reputeZythryn has a reputation beyond reputeZythryn has a reputation beyond reputeZythryn has a reputation beyond reputeZythryn has a reputation beyond reputeZythryn has a reputation beyond reputeZythryn has a reputation beyond reputeZythryn has a reputation beyond repute
 



Not Ranked  0 score     
Re: NOVA: Car of the Future

Anytime Infi
Currently I put on my tinfoil hat and look at it this way.
People running our government are making money on oil and are too short sighted to realize we are going to be in big trouble a few years into supply being greater than demand.
I am sticking it to the 'man' by doing my best to not line their pockets buying lots of gasoline.
As a side benifit, I am helping mankinds strugle against GW


----------------
"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents; it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.

(Ancient Indian Proverb)"

1874 engraving of Mount Hood and the Columbia River by R. Henshel Wood
Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2008   #29 (permalink)
Euclidean-Paradox's Avatar
Thinking


 
Euclidean-Paradox will become famous soon enoughEuclidean-Paradox will become famous soon enough
 



Not Ranked  0 score     
Re: NOVA: Car of the Future

My personal preference is for the electric car. In fact I think it is the best choice. For one, there wouldn't have to be any large scale changes to our infrastructure and it would technically produce zero emissions. Plus, it would be a lot cheaper too as you only have to pay the electric bill (as opposed to paying $3.5 per gallon). And correct me if I'm wrong, but electric cars do have much better performance compared to the alternatives.

BTW electric cars were invented over a century ago, and were actually preferred to petrol cars because they were much safer. But, of course, when they made better ignition boxes, electric cars abruptly disappeared.

We already have the technology to make it happen too, all we really need is the political will....
Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2008   #30 (permalink)
Zythryn's Avatar
Creating

Platinum Subscription
Sponsor

Location:
Minnesota
 
Zythryn has a reputation beyond reputeZythryn has a reputation beyond reputeZythryn has a reputation beyond reputeZythryn has a reputation beyond reputeZythryn has a reputation beyond reputeZythryn has a reputation beyond reputeZythryn has a reputation beyond reputeZythryn has a reputation beyond reputeZythryn has a reputation beyond repute
 



Not Ranked  0 score     
Re: NOVA: Car of the Future

Quote:
Originally Posted by Euclidean-Paradox View Post
And correct me if I'm wrong, but electric cars do have much better performance compared to the alternatives.
They can, but there is no gaurentee.
What is true of more electric cars across the board is the motors require almost no mantainance compared to an ICE.
For this reason alone it is a much better technology. It is also one of the reasons many give for it's failure in the late 90s as the big three rely on repair bills for a large part of their income.


----------------
"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents; it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.

(Ancient Indian Proverb)"

1874 engraving of Mount Hood and the Columbia River by R. Henshel Wood
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
car of the future


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
The Future... Boerseun Philosophy of Science 28 11-19-2007 04:28 AM
Super Nova Voyager Gardamorg Spaceship design 9 05-31-2007 09:39 AM
Nova, The Elegant Universe alexander Physics and Mathematics 1 03-28-2007 01:03 AM
The Future... Boerseun History forum 0 07-25-2006 09:28 AM
Link to Nova web site wholloway Physics and Mathematics 2 09-11-2003 10:50 PM

» Advertisement
» Current Poll
Who's the sexiest man alive? Johnny Depp or Robert Pattinson?
Johnny Depp - 30.00%
3 Votes
Robert Pattinson - 0%
0 Votes
Someone else (please specify) - 40.00%
4 Votes
I'm too macho to think a guy is sexy - 30.00%
3 Votes
Total Votes: 10
You may not vote on this poll.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 07:12 PM.

Hypography?

Hypography [n.]: A combination of "hyperlink" and "bibliography" - ie, a list of links to electronic documents. Comparable to discography and bibliography, but not cartography.

We have been online since May 2000, and aim to be the best place to find and share science-related content of all kinds.

Share the love!

Please add more science to your life. Use our RSS feeds on your blog, your portal, or your favorite feedreader!


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.3.2
Copyright © 2000-2009 Hypography
Part of the Hypography - Science for Everyone Network