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PARTISAN HACK
An opinionated but generally gentle spirit. Generally.
Articles Posted: 65; Links Seeded: 945
Member Since: 7/2007Last Seen: 8/21/2009
Member Since: 7/2007Last Seen: 8/21/2009
30 Votes
31 Comments
Engineer Gets 110 MPG Out Of 400HP '87 Mustang
News Type: Event — Seeded on Fri Jul 4, 2008 3:37 PM EDT
Article Source: kmbc.comadvertisement
Not a fishy story - a hyper-efficient 400HP street cruiser!
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- Groups: Climate Change, EconVine, Motor Vine, Science And Technology, Successful Solutions, US News and Views
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{"commentId":2118967,"authorDomain":"partisanhack"}
Not that it gets that mileage when going 0-60 in 3 seconds...
Internal combustion engines are very inefficient. Like rowing a boat, really, all of the kinetic energy is going in different directions - and not out the driveline.
{"commentId":2118967,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"partisanhack"}
- 4 votes
#1 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 3:39 PM EDT{"commentId":2119223,"authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
So why are the engineers of Auto corporations not introducing these new technologies??
If they did, those cars would be flying off the parking lots.
{"commentId":2119223,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":2119313,"authorDomain":"roybatty"}
So why are the engineers of Auto corporations not introducing these new technologies??
The oil companies don't want it, silly! Another example:
Their campaign almost complete, Chevron-Texaco came in with a final blow. The biggest drawback to the electric car had been its limited range: one charge lasted around 60 miles, then the car stopped. So the distinguished engineer Stan Ovshinsky created a battery that could run up to 300 miles at 70mph on a single charge — enough to get from London to Scotland, and make the car extremely popular. The oil companies bought the technology. It has not been seen since. From Who Killed the Electric Car?
{"commentId":2119313,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"roybatty"}
- 9 votes
{"commentId":2120128,"authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
I knew that, "silly", I just needed some corrobation, from those that understand the corruption of class forces over social, rational alternatives.
{"commentId":2120128,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":2120454,"authorDomain":"roybatty"}
hahahahaha. We agree!
{"commentId":2120454,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"roybatty"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":2121361,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
No pictures, no links in the article. Basically, it just SAYS this guy gets the 100+mpg. The newspaper didn't even ask for a test.
I would have to see this for myself, or have it tested independently. Otherwise it's another fish story. His claims seem over the top.
{"commentId":2121361,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}
- 8 votes
{"commentId":2121793,"authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}
Roy, even if some people stand to lose money, other people stand to gain and gain Huge. (And if 'the oil companies' now OWN the technology then it would be them)
If there is something out there that can make 'the oil companies' money, like this technology could, wouldn't they try to develop it and Make Money off a new gig?
That aside, thanks for the reference on Stan. Have to say, his Wikipedia page is rated as a B article, and uses controversial language (contains marketing-style claims). Stan needs to get some help with this page, if you're interested in doing some editing, there's no shortage of sources on the google search. This article sounds like he's got some decent financing to continue development.
Unrelated to Stan, one thing I started wondering about with the dial-a-tech thingy in the flash movie you linked, is the inevitable war to be the 'winning' technology - the blue ray of new car technologies...??
To be very trite, in an information age, I find it hard to believe that any technology that stands to make someone big $$$ can just be suppressed by the evil oil companies (not that they're not evil) vs co-opted to Make Money with.
{"commentId":2121793,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2123644,"authorDomain":"roybatty"}
The oil companies don't want an electric car for two sound business reasons.
First, it does not use oil.
Second, it uses electricity and electricity is seldomly generated using oil.
Why invest in the creation of alternative technologies when you're making real good money with your core business ... oil? And comparatively, what would licensing a technology sold to a customer every five years compare to the development costs and profitability of your overall business?
Its much more profitable to throw a few million dollars here and there to buy up competing technologies and shelve them.
Do not be misled, BP stands for British Petroleum, not "beyond petroleum."
{"commentId":2123644,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"roybatty"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2125464,"authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}
First, it does not use oil.
If IBM had thought this way it would have perished generations ago. They changed their core business from punch cards and typewriters to supercomputing, software, and business consulting. Oil companies can either change or die, which do you think they'll choose?
It may be more profitable to do one thing now, but if you are actually tightening a noose around your neck, as oil runs out, then you will eventually either switch to doing something else, or take one last gasp and croak.
{"commentId":2125464,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2125564,"authorDomain":"partisanhack"}
If IBM had thought this way it would have perished generations ago.
Oil is not a business, it's a racket.
{"commentId":2125564,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"partisanhack"}
{"commentId":2126203,"authorDomain":"roybatty"}
If IBM had thought this way it would have perished generations ago. They changed their core business from punch cards and typewriters to supercomputing, software, and business consulting. Oil companies can either change or die, which do you think they'll choose?
Good point.
So other than public-relations lip-service, how are they changing? Has Exxon Mobile built any solar or wind turbine energy plants? Has BP launched that battery that will make electric cars possible? Has Shell put a geothermal plant online?
{"commentId":2126203,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"roybatty"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2119016,"authorDomain":"mightyblogger"}
Clipped to Successful Solutions
I have a car that could use his technology...
{"commentId":2119016,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"mightyblogger"}
- 2 votes
#2 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 3:48 PM EDT{"commentId":2119515,"authorDomain":"feldspar"}
GM is on the verge of bankruptcy by design. The board is managed by the same greedy vulchers who manage the oil companies. These criminals have chained America down and have systematically sucked our life blood for the last fifty years.
These guys knew about Peak Oil thirty years ago, yet they marketed their Tahoes and Hummers and kept gas mileage down in all their cars. They watched as Toyota, Subaru, Honda and Nissan out sold them with gas efficient vehicles.
American engineers aren't stupid. Their hands are tied by these greedy executives who have enslaved America and have their bought off politicians call it Patriotism.
{"commentId":2119515,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"feldspar"}
- 3 votes
#3 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 5:41 PM EDT{"commentId":2120131,"authorDomain":"Conrad37"}
For the last fifty years we have heard stories like these; and then, they fall into a black hole.If this story evades the destructive pull of those in power (of other interests) it will be a miracle. I don't know if this claim is legitimate (100 mpg out on a 20 year old engine), but if it is, shouldn't it be one of the top news stories on all networks and in all newspapers?
It has been on Newsvine for two days. Why has not some investigative reporter picked up on it and spread the good news? Are all investigative reporters a part of some conspiracy, funded by big oil?
Are all the news networds owned by some group which has an interest in burying this innovation?
Or, is this story bogus? Has it been validated by some reputable testing company? Or, are all of them under the control of some nefarious corporation?
The guy says he entered some $10 million dollar contest. Who is putting up that money? Are the legitimate? What do they get from awarding such a prize?
We can hope for 100 mpg vehicles. We can hope for more validation of such
{"commentId":2120131,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"Conrad37"}
- 3 votes
#4 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 8:25 PM EDT{"commentId":2120314,"authorDomain":"partisanhack"}
Even if it is valid, this is one person with a lot of custom tweaking on his vehicle - no guarantee that his insights can lead to mass-produced vehicles.
{"commentId":2120314,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"partisanhack"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2122976,"authorDomain":"feldspar"}
The contest is the Progressive X Prize for Automotive innovation. Part of the contest rules are that the designs could be put into production.
http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/
It's the same group that is running the Google X Prizes for space exploration. The list of entries are no joke. These are smart people that will probably do what they claim.
By the way the article explained that, you should read it. But I tend to agree with your first statement that most reporters (or at least the people who pay them) are part of the big oil conspiracy.
{"commentId":2122976,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"feldspar"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2123226,"authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}
Oh, yeah, I remember seeing the Google thing. This is a great idea, contests tend to attract very smart competitive people who want their ideas circulated, and a contest provides a cheap and accessible venue for doing so.
{"commentId":2123226,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2120355,"authorDomain":"bartning"}
It's a good seed, Partisan Hack. Thanks!
{"commentId":2120355,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"bartning"}
- 2 votes
#5 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 9:31 PM EDT{"commentId":2120465,"authorDomain":"bluecollarbytes"}
Well this guy made the claim. I wonder if he can back it up? It's certain there are many "back yard mechanics" thinking outside the box however. How far will the various govt. entities go in allowing 'out of the box' solutions?
{"commentId":2120465,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"bluecollarbytes"}
#6 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 10:02 PM EDT{"commentId":2120842,"authorDomain":"jimdent"}
Traditional gas engines operate at 8 to 10 percent, efficiency, while the engine on the Mustang, he said, is at 38 percent efficiency.
Sorry, gotta raise the bull@!$%# flag. The Ottoman Cycle engine (your car engine) typically operates at 20-40 % efficiency. For this guy to go from 15-20 mpg to 100 mpg means he has coaxed 90-100 % efficiency from that engine. Keep in mind that at 100% efficiency, there would be no exhaust emissions... ALL of the gas would be used to generate power with no waste... Sorry to rain on y'alls parade, but without some huge leap in technology, this guys just another snake oil salesman. Show me some certified independent verification... or pull the other leg.
{"commentId":2120842,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"jimdent"}
- 8 votes
#7 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 11:54 PM EDT{"commentId":2121235,"authorDomain":"nunyerbiz"}
Yea... I would be thinking shenanigans if the headline was "Engineer Gets 110mpg out of 1994 Geo Metro"... but he went way too far with the 400hp Mustang.
I'm not saying that big corporations don't do shady stuff to keep their golden geese alive and well... but I think pulling the car companies into the mix is going too far. As a livelong resident of the Detroit area with many family and friends in the auto industry, I can attest to the fact that the Detroit 3 have made their own bed in regards to their current impending insolvencies. That said, I think it's a stretch to say that they are in bed with big oil. The oil companies are making record profits... the Detroit 3 are stuggling to survive. Doesn't that say it all?
When oil was cheap, they pushed big cars that make a bigger profit... that's basic capitalism. Of course, and as other posters have stated, they knew that peak oil or something near peak oil was on the horizon. Yet, they did nothing until they were bleeding billions. Personally, I blame the bankers and brokers. If we still had a decent capital gains tax or some other safeguard that encouraged investors to hold onto stocks, then maybe this wouldn't have gotten so far out of hand... However, all the CEOs and CFOs are only worried about short term. They must keep the stock value steady or rising at all costs... even if it means completely ignoring the long term. If the company goes down in flames five years later... what do they care? They always have their golden parachutes that were approved by the board which is consisted of other members of the "goodboy" CEO/CFO network.
{"commentId":2121235,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"nunyerbiz"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2121444,"authorDomain":"vas"}
means he has coaxed 90-100 % efficiency from that engine. Keep in mind that at 100% efficiency, there would be no exhaust emissions... ALL of the gas would be used to generate power with no waste... Sorry to rain on y'alls parade, but without some huge leap in technology
Jim, it's even worse: the laws of physics make 100% efficiency impossible, and 90% efficiency at reasonable operating tempuratures impossible as well. See Carnot's theorem and the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
Most steel engines have a thermodynamic limit of 37%. Even when aided with turbochargers and stock efficiency aids, most engines retain an average efficiency of about 20%.
-- Wikipedia. Note that that 37% limit is a laws of physics limit, not a technological one.
{"commentId":2121444,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"vas"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":2121805,"authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}
the laws of physics make 100% efficiency impossible, and 90% efficiency at reasonable operating tempuratures impossible as well.
That's my understanding, this sounds correct.
{"commentId":2121805,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2123410,"authorDomain":"partisanhack"}
Still, it's kinda fun. I agree that the fundamental inefficiency of traditional 4-cycle piston motors makes this highly suspect - looked like he may still have had a carburetor! - but it's fun to think that a backyard tinkerer has come up with something. If it's legit we'll hear about it soon enough. In the meantime I'm hanging on to my car until an affordable plug-in electric hybrid shows up. No sense rewarding any auto manufacturer until then.
{"commentId":2123410,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"partisanhack"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":2123501,"authorDomain":"inghar2004"}
It sounded too good to be true, looks like it is...all those Hummers will still be trash after all.
{"commentId":2123501,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"inghar2004"}
#8 - Sat Jul 5, 2008 2:41 PM EDT{"commentId":2124778,"authorDomain":"sylvan13"}
Doesnt the article say that hes submitting the car in the contest?
You guys will know, when the contest is over, if the guy was full of ****.
Meanwhile check out this link and read about the next few years hybrid's!
http://www.hybridcenter.org/hybrid-timeline.html
It seems to me that the oil interests are cashing out fast because we may not be using much gas in about 5 years.
{"commentId":2124778,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"sylvan13"}
#9 - Sat Jul 5, 2008 7:46 PM EDT{"commentId":2128378,"authorDomain":"baachus61"}
Easy enough to do, all in the gearing. Lose all your acceleration, won't climb a hill but if you stretch out the gear box, over drive for top gear and tall gearing in the diff. Totally impractical of course but could be done.
{"commentId":2128378,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"baachus61"}
#10 - Sun Jul 6, 2008 2:36 PM EDT{"commentId":2128850,"authorDomain":"sylvan13"}
Porsche Hybrid!
{"commentId":2128850,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"sylvan13"}
#11 - Sun Jul 6, 2008 4:11 PM EDT{"commentId":2149404,"authorDomain":"bomticker"}
You know what I hate when people talk about cars when they don't know the first thing about cars!. Can this car really get 110mpg without messing with the gears? Yes this car can! Ive been a mechanic/mechanical engineer for some while and Ive created small scale concepts that can do about 300hp 230tq and 135mpg on a mathematically enlarged scale.
{"commentId":2149404,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"bomticker"}
- 1 vote
#12 - Wed Jul 9, 2008 11:04 AM EDT{"commentId":2149530,"authorDomain":"bomticker"}
I may have came off harsh in my last comments but it is just because I was reading what some of the other quote on quote car guys were saying and thier therys are ridiculos. Bottom line this car can possibly get what it has claimed but is that really enough? Okay so oil prices are going up and the demand is decreasing because of the price, more and more people are going to start looking at alternitive fuels.
{"commentId":2149530,"threadId":"306232","contentId":"1639206","authorDomain":"bomticker"}
- 1 vote
#13 - Wed Jul 9, 2008 11:18 AM EDT{"commentId":2151193,"authorDomain":"partisanhack"}
Well, it's entertaining, and he may even be able to do it, but I agree, if it's not really driveable it's not a solution. Not in the spirit of the X prize, to be sure.
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