Quote:
Originally Posted by RealityRacer
I am trying to understand your efforts for innovation and I am looking for answers. Can anyone here answer my questions? Surely, someone has some insight. You all seem very intelligent...
1. An ICE is 20% efficient and there is no room for improvement or the OEMs would do it. Can this be improved?
2. The ECU is programmed to adjust for max efficiency. Is there any evidence that the ECU is limited to a specified MPG?
3. Do you really think we want to be dependant on foreign oil? I mean, would there be any reason to keep us addicted to oil?
Please educate me- I am looking for answers.
|
1) Honda and Toyota both sell cars that have 40% efficient ICEs in them. Maybe a percent or two extra can be squeezed out of gasoline engines with higher compression and reducing parasitic losses, but that's already pretty close to the reasonable upper limit, without scavenging waste heat. Mercedes has a racing engine that broke 50% efficiency by scavenging exhaust heat.
2) None. Manufacturers spend millions of dollars chasing tenths of a percent, and there is a lot of incentive for them to improve things. The major losses in cars that exist now are (best I understand it) limitations put on engineers due to styling needs, power needs, or cost saving measures.
3) I agree we don't want to be. The US is a major oil producing nation. I don't fully understand why we buy a lot of oil.