Musings

I have been reviewing the technologies being proposed for alternate-energy automobiles, with a view to determining the best solution. As my newest vehicle is now seven years old, I will be shopping for a new one soon, and I want it to be Eco-friendly.

The result of my analysis is that the ultimate modality is the Hydrogen fuel cell-based electric vehicle. Unfortunately, this type of propulsion system is still years away, and will likely be realized as a practical mass production vehicle after my demise.

In the meantime, I must choose a hybrid system. For those of you that are technological illiterates, the following diagram shows the optimum hybrid technology of today:

The ideal hybrid’s main issue is located in the block labeled ‘Fuel Tank’. The best solution to date is one that utilizes LNG (liquefied natural gas), and a number of auto manufacturers have prototypes that they have developed. Natural gas is extremely abundant; for example, domestic NG supplies can allow replacement of the entire fleet of motor vehicles in the USA at present, and are adequate to supply them for the next 200 years, with no reduction in the miles driven. At present, the fueling costs are about 80 cents per gallon.

This solution totally eliminates our dependence on imported oil, reduces the C02 emissions by over 60%, and reduces particulate emissions to zero. As present day auto exhaust products represent nearly 70% of the U.S. contribution to global warming contaminants, our country would become ‘Green’ in a hurry.

Now, the block labeled ‘Drive Motor’ is about to get a major advance from Raser Technologies, Inc. (a Utah-based company). Their Symetron electromagnetic motor system, designed for use in hybrid cars, got the Frost & Sullivan 2006 Technology Innovation of the Year Award.

The Symetron system is an AC induction motor. It's only four inches long, a lightweight 66 pounds, and can deliver 64 horsepower with 170 lb/ft torque to start the car moving. With one per drive wheel, this gives the vehicle 256 Horsepower and a whopping 680 lb/ft torque. This would enable it to beat the fastest Ferrari in a zero-100MPH drag race.

Unfortunately, the national infrastructure for gassing up LNG vehicles is basically non-existent, and it is unlikely that Exxon, Conoco, Chevron, and their brother companies will embrace this demand-destroying change to their oil-based business models any time soon.

In the meantime, when the price of oil returns to the $100/barrel level by 2012, there is an alternative that is interesting to me. It means that I might have to return to my teenage experience of building Hot Rods, and construct a machine of my own.

The Magic of Steam
With the introduction of the Model 735 Stanley in 1918, the Stanley Motor Carriage Company took up a vigorous advertising campaign touting the advantages of the steam car over the "internal explosion engine" powered automobile. Stanley made great effort to point out that there are minimal electrics (only the lights), no clutch or transmission, no carburetor, and no high-voltage ignition system on a Stanley. An emphasis was placed on the fact that the technology of a Stanley has been around for over 100 years; is extremely simple; totals about three dozen moving mechanical parts; is a proven technology; and has been refined to the highest extent possible. Perhaps the most interesting argument revolved around the idea that the public demanded internal combustion engine powered cars because there are more of them; therefore they must be better! And, that early automotive engineers were obsessed with obtaining "power directly from fuel".

The Stanley Streamer
It was a pretty classy auto in it’s day, but since then the technology has advanced a little. Here is a modern steam-powered race car built in the U.K. It set a land speed record:

Here is another example of a modern steam-powered muscle car:Photo courtesy of Jim's Garage
Now, the Steam Engine is not as archaic as one would think. Here is an example of one made for a car that would appeal to any home mechanic:


Now, if we don't get our act together on LNG Hybrids, my protest scheme is to convert my old Cadillac to steam power. For fuel, I would simply drive down to the local landfill or raid my neighbor’s trash containers, and empty the burnable contents into the firebox on the big boiler that I installed where the trunk used to be. As I am now living on my Social Security check and my savings, It is a frugal way of getting around and doing my bit to violate the Clean Air act.